Recipes

[Chi-town girl]

I watched and shopped the Belle Beauty show yesterday. Kim referenced one of her favorite snacks that she makes in the crock pot. Host Courtney said it was something she also loves, 

Kim said she would post her recipe on Facebook. I see a video that she posted, but not the written recipe. I would love her crockpot recipe. 

[Chi-town girl]

Found this recipe posted by a South Carolina magazine. I'm interested in trying it. Not sure if raw peanuts are sold in grocery stores outside of the south, but I've seen them sold at Farmers Market

Lowcountry natives Matt Lee and Ted Lee share their recipe—originally featured in The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen—for the perfect summertime snack

Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts

(Makes 4 lbs.)

1½ cups kosher salt, plus more to taste
4 gal. water
2 lbs. shell-on raw peanuts or 3 lbs. green peanuts

In a large (10- to 12-quart) stockpot, stir 1/2 cup salt into two gallons of water until the salt dissolves, then add the peanuts. Use a large dinner plate or two to help submerge the floating peanuts. Allow to soak for eight hours or overnight. (This step saves a little time boiling, but you can skip if needed. If you’re using green peanuts—which are freshly picked—you may also skip this step.)

Drain the soaking water and add two gallons of fresh water and the remaining cup of salt to the pot of peanuts. Note the level of the water on the side of the pot. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for six to eight hours (two to three for green peanuts), keeping the water in the pot within an inch or so of its original level with regular additions of water, until the peanuts are about as soft as a roasted chestnut.

Once the peanuts have boiled for three hours (one hour for green peanuts), sample them to check their texture and salinity. Remove a peanut, and when it is cool enough to handle, crack open its shell and taste the kernel, slurping some brine with it. If the peanut crunches, it should be cooked further. If the brine lacks enough salt, add more to taste; if it is too salty, remove a portion of the water and replace with the same volume of fresh water. Allow the pot to boil for another hour before testing again. Sample every hour until they are pleasantly yielding and as salty as a good pickle.

When the peanuts are cooked to your satisfaction, turn off the heat and allow them to cool in the pot for an hour (30 minutes for green peanuts).

When cool enough to handle, drain the water and eat immediately. If not eating, store the shell-on peanuts in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer. Boiled peanuts will keep for about seven to 10 days in the refrigerator and up to six months in the freezer.

Chefs’ Tips:

■ Pod pick: “Get Valencia peanuts (usually slender, with three or four kernels per pod and red skin on the nut) for the best boiled peanuts,” Matt says. “Spanish and Virginia varieties are not as tasty and more starchy.”

■ Seeing green: Matt advises opting for fresh-picked green peanuts when they’re in season. “Small, immature ones are often tender enough that they can be eaten shell and all,” he explains.

■ Spice it up: The brothers add a tablespoon of Zatarain’s Crab Boil seasoning for Cajun-flavored peanuts. For a savory taste, try boiling them with a smoked ham hock or neck bone.

■ Nutty upgrade: “Fold shelled boiled peanuts into vanilla ice cream with a swirl of maple syrup, sorghum, or cane syrup,” Matt suggests. “It’s delicious!”

[On It]

They are most definitely a Southern thing. I have seen them on grocery store shelves in cans like green beans, spinach, etc. If anyone wants to try them and can't find raw peanuts, Walmart might have them for shipping. Of course, canned isn't as good as fresh.

Portales, NM and Brownfield, TX are big production areas. They are sold in large sacks similar to grapefruit and oranges. Maybe their cooperatives would ship to reach new markets. Good luck with a new taste treat!

[Chi-town girl]

Thank you @On It 

[drizzellla]

I never heard of boiled peanuts until I visited my husband's sister. She lives in Georgia. 

Well, every time we visit they make a batch (if it is the right season). They stress that the peanuts have to be green. 

I am just happy to buy the boiled peanuts in a can, Peanut Patch. They taste fine to me.

Thank you so much for the recipes, @Chi-town girl . I want to make them. Guess I will have to wait until we go to Georgia again so I can get the peanuts. I can't wait.

[On It]

A word of caution. I ate the peanuts raw. They taste really good. Too many will give you a tummy ache.

[Chi-town girl]

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@drizzellla wrote:

I never heard of boiled peanuts until I visited my husband's sister. She lives in Georgia. 

Well, every time we visit they make a batch (if it is the right season). They stress that the peanuts have to be green. 

I am just happy to buy the boiled peanuts in a can, Peanut Patch. They taste fine to me.

Thank you so much for the recipes, @Chi-town girl . I want to make them. Guess I will have to wait until we go to Georgia again so I can get the peanuts. I can't wait.

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Interesting @drizzellla - I've not seen 'green peanuts' nor boiled peanuts in a can. Need to research resources

Hoping Kim posts her written crockpot recipe

[On It]

I checked the Walmart site. They have Peanut Patch boiled peanuts in the can. They are available for curbside pickup and shipping here in West Texas.

[drizzellla]

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@On It wrote:

I checked the Walmart site. They have Peanut Patch boiled peanuts in the can. They are available for curbside pickup and shipping here in West Texas.

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One time we were vacationing in South Carolina. At the Sam's Club in South Carolina they had 5 pound cans of Peanut Patch Boiled Peanuts. Well, in the cart went a can.

When we got back from vacation I started to eat the boiled peanuts from the 5 pound can. Will never buy a 5 pound can again. I am the only one in the family that likes them and  let's just say I wasn't as enthusiastic about eating boiled peanuts after eating the 5 pounds.

I'll buy the 25 oz can from Walmart from now on.

[Sooner]

I have tried them many times and to me, they basically taste like undercooked boiled peas.  But that's just me.

I like my peanuts in the shell roasted in my oven and eaten while they are too hot!    I love that smell!