HOW TO BOIL PEANUTS/GROUNDNUTS

      Simple & foolproof techniques, to boil Peanuts/Groundnuts. I have given 2 different ways to Cook the Peanuts - Boiling & Pressure Cooking. Few tried & tested methods to transform the Whole Peanuts with Shells into Sweet, Succulent and Tender bites. Fresh Groundnuts flock the market during the season, but it peaks during the warm summer months in some countries.

    When the season hits during the Summer months, my mom used to buy that from the street vendor who sells summer produces like Corn, Groundnuts, Sweet Potatoes, Palm Shoots etc., & etc., She pressure cooks these and usually, it turns out to be an evening snack during our Summer Holidays. Slightly salted & boiled Peanuts were a treat.  You should know the knack to crack open the Shell and there the salted liquid squirts out, gently remove the boiled groundnuts, collect them until you have enough to fill your mouth or enjoy each legume of groundnut.

HOW TO BOIL PEANUTS/GROUNDNUTS

HOW TO BOIL PEANUTS/GROUNDNUTS

    Here, I am going to talk about boiling Groundnuts with Shells.  You can see these boiled Groundnuts sold by street vendors, may be in a park or in a beach... in an exhibition ground, carnival, temple or church festival grounds... steaming out in their carts. They sell these boiled peanuts here in our locality during the International Kite Festival an annual event which happens in our neighbourhood (Pasir Gudang, Johor) in Layang-Layang alias the Kite Hills.  Though, personally I have never bought these boiled Peanuts from Street Vendors, the memories & the lingering smell of steamed Peanuts linger reminds me of the events.  The vendor would scoop out a couple of ladles into a newspaper cone like packet.  Gradually the water from the Groundnuts wetting the paper.  Some sell it as Thenga Manga Pattani Sundal and some even cater Verkadalai/Nilakadalai Sundal.  But these versions are prepared with de-shelled ones.

PEANUTS/GROUNDNUTS

     Choose a convenient method to boil the Peanuts.  Can use a saucepan or can boil the peanuts in a Pressure Cooker.  These are the methods I use while boiling Ground Nuts.  Preferably I use a Pressure Cooker for the Process.  Easier, quicker and takes very less time to cook compared to other methods.

CLEANING:

    But before the cooking process, make sure to clean the Groundnuts as we are going to boil the Peanuts with the shells.  Wash the groundnuts thoroughly in water. The shells can be dirty and would have some mud or grit sticking on it.  After all, it grows underground, so preferably rinse them off     under lukewarm water. Make sure to clean off as much debris as you can before attempting to cook the groundnuts.  

    Alternatively you can leave the Groundnuts in a big bowl of water for a few hours.  Soaking helps to loosen up the debris.  Later rinse them off thoroughly in water.

SOAKING:

    Ground Nuts with Shells take a long time to cook.  So usually I soak it up in a big bowl overnight or at least for 6-8 hours before cooking.  This way, the Peanuts tend to cook sooner and also yields you with a tender, juicy legume.

In a Saucepan (Boiling Method):

HOW TO BOIL PEANUTS/GROUNDNUTS

 

• Clean & wash the shell-on Peanuts for a couple of times.
• Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the Peanuts.
• Bring it to a boil and add a Dash of Salt.
• Cover and reduce the flame to medium.
• Cook Corn until the Ground Nuts turn tender, soft & cooked.
• Soaked Peanuts take lesser time to cook.
• It may take about 1-11/2 Hours. 
• Otherwise, cook for about 21/2 Hours to 3 Hours. 
• Cook the Peanuts until it reaches the desired level of softness. 
  

In a Pressure Cooker:

HOW TO BOIL PEANUTS/GROUNDNUTS

 

• Clean & wash the shell-on Peanuts for a couple of times.
• Place the Peanuts directly into the Pressure Cooker and pour in enough water to cover the Peanuts.
• Cover the Lid of the Pressure Cooker and place the Vent cap.
• Pressure-cook on a high flame for about 4-5 whistle, lower the flame and cook for another 10 or 12 whistles. 
• Cook Corn until the Ground Nuts turn tender, soft & cooked.
• Soaked Peanuts take lesser time to cook.
• Cook the Peanuts until it reaches the desired level of softness.  
• Let the Pressure cooker be big enough to hold both the Peanuts and the Water.
   

ADD-ONS:

    Boiled Peanuts taste great just with Salt.  But I have seen braised Peanuts served in Chinese Restaurants as an appetizer which are cooked with add-ons like Chinese Five Spice Powder, Cinnamon, Garlic Cloves. Star Anise, Palm Sugar, Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce etc.,  Some recipes use all the above add-ons.  Mostly, braised Peanuts are made with de-shelled Peanuts.

HOW TO EAT BOILED PEANUTS/GROUND NUTS

PEANUTS/GROUNDNUTS

• Drain the groundnuts & allow them to  cool for about an hour before eating.
  
• Once cooked, it's advisable to pour out the water.
• This way, we can avoid Peanuts absorbing extra water & Salt.
• Once the groundnuts cool, you can crack open the shells to remove the nuts.

    *NOTE:

HOW TO STORE BOILED GROUNDNUTS

• Store the boiled groundnuts in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. 
• The groundnuts are best when they are fresh and don’t last very long in storage. 
• They will soften or begin to spoil after about a week.
• You could also store the groundnuts in a well-sealed container in the freezer. 
• If stored in the freezer, it can last for several months.
• To thaw frozen groundnuts, leave them in the refrigerator overnight. 
• You could also defrost them in the microwave for 5 to 10 minutes or put them in hot water until they soften.