Cooking Cove: Hot Spiced Boiled Peanuts

Boiled peanuts are a real Southern treat. My husband, who hails from Ohio, is not a fan. At all. He thinks they taste like beans (and I never really put that together but they do have the same texture). Still, my love affair with a good boiled peanut runs deep and true. These tasty treats can be found at random locations where some good folk decide to park their truck and set up a pot to boil, usually dotting country highways and advertising with large hand painted signs.

This recipe came from an old Southern Living magazine and creates a nicely salted and zippy boiled peanut.

2 pounds of raw peanuts in the shell

1/3 cup of salt

3/4 cup of hot sauce (Texas Pete or Louisiana is pretty good for this, it takes a whole 6 ounce bottle)

1 (3 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

2 teaspoons coriander seeds

2 bay leaves

Bring all ingredients and one gallon of water to a boil in a pot over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 4-6 hours, until the peanuts inside the shell are tender. Stir and add water as needed to keep the peanuts covered. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for one more hour. 

Give 'em a shot. You just might be surprised.