Traditional Southern Boiled peanuts easily made at home in your slow cooker.
Boiled Peanuts are one of my favorite southern treats! I was introduced to boiled peanuts about 40 years ago in a non traditional way. I say non traditional because boiled peanuts are primarily enjoyed in the south, but I was introduced to them by a friend when we were stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.
Living in Hawaii and being a military brat you tend to meet different people from all over the world. I had so many friends that would come and go in the 9 years that we were stationed in Hawaii, but that just goes along with military life.
I was about 10 years old and had no idea what boiled peanuts were. My friend Terrance who recently moved from Georgia to Hawaii had brought some outside when we were playing tag. It was at that time that I got my first taste of boiled peanuts and I've been hooked on them ever since.
If you're not familiar with boiled peanuts it's probably because they're more popular in the southern states. Boiled peanuts are raw peanuts that are still in the shell and boiled for hours in a salty brine mixture. These delicious peanuts can be found at roadside stands and farmers markets, but are really easy to make at home.
The basic recipe calls for water, peanuts and salt, but Creole seasoning or even Old Bay seasoning can also be added if you want to spice up your peanuts a bit. Boiled peanuts can be eaten warm or cold and are super easy to make in your slow cooker.
This recipe is simple, just add the rinsed peanuts to a slow cooker, add enough water to cover peanuts (at this point the peanuts will float, but they will eventually go down as they cook). Keep in mind cooking time can vary depending on your slow cooker, variety of peanuts used and your personal preference on how soft you want your peanuts.
Yield: 1 - pound
Southern Boiled Peanuts
Traditional Southern Boiled peanuts easily made at home in your slow cooker.
Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 9 HourTotal time: 9 H & 20 M
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green raw or raw dried peanuts in the shell
- water, enough to cover peanuts (about 5-6 cups)
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1 tablespoon Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning or Old Bay seasoning, optional
- 5 quart slow cooker
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash unshelled peanuts in a large bowl under cold water to remove dirt and debris. Wash peanuts until the water runs clear and drain.
- Place rinsed peanuts in slow cooker, add water (enough to cover peanuts), salt and seasoning if using. (peanuts will float at this point).
- Cook on high for one hour, reduce heat to low and cook for 9 - 10 hours. You may have to add more water during cooking to keep the peanuts covered.
- Cook peanuts until they are soft.
- To test the peanuts just remove a couple, crack open and see if they are soft enough for your taste.
- Drain off water and store peanuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Eat within 7 - 10 days.
7 comments
I asked my Grandmother once how much salt I should add when boiling peanuts. She looked at me like I was dumb, and said, "Well, Steve, you put enough salt in there so that your water tastes like you want your peanuts." For someone as analytical as I am, this concept of cooking empirically was like a curtain pulled back. Cooking didn't have to be just about recipes. It was not a chemistry lab. Cooking was also about direct feedback. Taste, feel, sight and smell. When I smell peanuts on the boil, I remember my Grandmother.