MASALA PEANUTS

       If I say about my Son's craze for peanuts, then it is a long story.  While he was a kid he always had terrible digestion problem that I scrutinize strictly on what he eats.  But he secretly sneaks & somehow gobbles up(literally he gobbles up) peanuts that I would know it only when he falls sick.       
      There was one old man who used to sell Roasted Peanuts, every evening it was a routine that he strolls around the street to sell Peanuts with the undoubted sound of his ladle striking on to the hard iron wok, making a TING, TING, TING noise typical for a Peanut Vendor in our locality.  The moment my son hears the sound, he becomes restless and i.e every day.  At times, I buy those roasted peanuts packed in small paper cones for him but not daily.
      He was not even 2 years then, but he found easier methods to buy peanuts. He used to hang around with our street security, neighbour's driver and our company workers who come home to meet my FIL & my husband to collect their daily wages. Knowing his love for peanuts, all would treat him with a pack of roasted peanuts one after the other every day.  But the main trick was that he used to fill his small pockets with petty coins which he collects from his grandfather and cater those coins to the men who buy him peanuts. Not really worried about the value but thinking that he has to pay money to buy something.
      He was worried whether I would find him eating these peanuts that he used to literally gobble them up. Gradually he overcame with the digestion problems, but never with his love for NUTS.  I usually make a batch of roasted peanuts whenever he visits home from his University or buy Masala Peanuts, Salted Cashews etc.,  I sometimes even pack him a box of Puliyodharai loaded with Peanuts along with an extra box of Roasted Peanuts while he goes back. He loves to snack on Nuts.
      But never ever the idea of making this Masala Peanuts occurred to me.  I had always thought that it was a difficult task. I remember my Mom making these Masala Peanuts when I was a kid.  Convincing myself to try the recipe I bought a pack of Peeled Peanuts. But I felt as always that difficult looking recipes are always the simplest ones.  This recipe for Masala Peanuts was an easy one and also less time-consuming.  Masala Peanuts is one tasty, crispy & spicy snack which can be incorporated within minutes.


Cuisine - Indian
Recipe - Snack
Spice Level - Low
Difficulty - Medium
Yields - 250 Gms
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 5 Minutes
Cooking Time - 10 - 15 Minutes

HOW TO MAKE MASALA PEANUTS

MASALA PEANUTS

INGREDIENTS :

Peanuts - 1 Cup
Bengal Gram Dhal Flour/Besan - 1/4 Cup
Rice Flour - 11/2 Tbspn
Red Chilli Powder - 1 Tspn
Soda-bi-Carbonate - a Pinch
Asafoetida - 1/4 Tspn
Salt - To Taste
Sugar - 2 Tspn(Optional)
Hot Oil - 1 Tbspn
Water - as Required

METHOD :

• Add Bengal Gram Dhal Powder, Rice Flour, Red Chilli Powder, Soda-bi-carbonate, Salt, Asafoetida Powder and Sugar to the Peanuts and toss it up well.
• Heat Oil in a Deep Wok on a high flame, allow the oil to fume up, lower the flame to medium-high.
• Carefully pour in a Tablespoon of Hot Oil to the Peanut - Masala Mix and gently mix it with a spoon.
• Sprinkle a little bit of water at a time and gently mix until the Peanuts are well coated with the Masala Mix.
• Once the Peanuts are ready, drop them carefully into the Hot oil.
• Deep fry the Masala Peanuts on a medium flame until they turn into golden brown in colour and Crispy.
• Remove the Masala Peanuts from Oil with a slotted spoon and allow them to drain on a paper towel.
• Once cooled, transfer the Masala Peanuts into an airtight container.
• Stays good at room temperature up to two weeks.

NOTES :

• Use Roasted Peanuts for the recipe.
• I have not added any food colouring to the Masala Peanuts.
• If you want a vibrant red colour, can add Kashmiri Chilli Powder or a few drops of Red food colouring.
• Adding a pinch of Soda-bi-Carbonate and hot oil to the Masala Peanuts while mixing them yields crispy Masala Peanuts.
• And also helps to retain the crispiness for a long time.
• Adding Sugar is purely optional.
• Adjust the amount of spices to suit your spice level.
• Can add few cloves of crushed Garlic to masala mix to add flavour to the Masala Peanuts.
• Can also fry few sprigs of fried Curry Leaves along with Masala Peanuts.
• Store the Masala Peanuts in an airtight container.