Southern Boiled Peanuts Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do Southerners boil peanuts? ›

But most agree that the practice of boiling peanuts originated in Africa and was introduced to American Southern culture by slaves, as the South is where the peanut crop flourished. Boiling was a clever and delicious way to enjoy the fresh-harvested or “green” peanuts that were not yet dry enough to roast.

Use a large dinner plate to help submerge the floating peanuts. Soak peanuts 8 hours or overnight. (This step saves a little time boiling, but if you don't have the luxury of soaking time, you can skip it.)

Made from sugar, fermented apples, and yeast, the vinegar adds a sweet, tangy flavor to the peanuts. The acid provides balance to the savory spices that have already been added, transforming the peanuts into a well-rounded, flavorful snack with depth.

The peanut was known throughout the South as a goober pea. The word goober comes from the Congo name for peanuts – nguba.

A Peanut By Any Other Name Would Be As Unappreciated

"The ground pea of the South, or as it is sometimes called, the gouber or pindar pea," said one patent application in 1848. "The earthnut, groundnut, goober, pindar or peanut" is how the Department of Agriculture phrased it.

Don't eat the shells – As with any delicacy, there is an etiquette for eating boiled peanuts. While the rule of thumb for oysters is to “shuck it and suck it,” the same concept applies to boiled peanuts. Peanut hulls (shells) are fibrous, and even after boiling are tough and chewy.

Boil the peanuts for at least three hours. After three hours, take out a peanut and try it – if it's not soft enough, keep boiling until the desired softness is reached. If you like melt-in-your-mouth boiled peanuts, you may prefer to boil them all day.

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.

Historians speculate that the Southern tradition of blending shelled, salted peanuts and co*ke may have originated in the 1920s, when farmers or other manual laborers wanted to enjoy a snack that wouldn't require touching their food.

Aluminum pots blacken when boiling peanuts. Over time this darkening may transfer to the boiled peanuts. Iodized salt. I've never experienced this myself, but some people say that iodized salt causes blackening of boiled peanuts.

Why are my boiled peanuts slimy? ›

Boiled peanuts can get slimy if they're overcooked or sit in the brine for too long.

Can you overcook Boiled Peanuts? Unfortunately, you can definitely overcook boiled peanuts. Overcooked boiled peanuts tend to turn out mushy, so be sure to follow the instructions carefully and not cook them longer than recommended in your instant pot.

Comments for Best peanut variety for boiling

My favorite variety of peanuts for boiling is Valencia. 80% of Valencia peanuts in the USA are grown near Portales, New Mexico. Valencias are also grown around Ocala, Florida. I also like Georgia sweet runner peanuts for boiling.

You need but three ingredients to make boiled peanuts. (1) Green peanuts, (2) Tap water, and (3) Salt. Don't use any fancy pants, imported Basque hand-crushed, sun-dried sel de mer. Use Morton's Iodized.

They are often enjoyed as a snack or appetizer and are a popular food at outdoor events and festivals. Boiled peanuts are a good source of protein and fiber and can be a healthy addition to any diet. They are also a great alternative to traditional salty snacks like chips and pretzels.

“They are extremely beneficial because they have carbohydrates, good fats, proteins and fibre as well,” she told indianexpress.com. Nutritious and packed with antioxidants, boiled peanuts are an excellent source of energy. “A half cup of boiled peanuts contains approximately 286 calories with no cholesterol.

Colonial Days:

Peanuts were first brought to America by slaves from Africa and the practice of boiling peanuts probably originated here. If there was a surplus peanut crop, field workers would hold a “peanut boil” to celebrate with shared conversation and food.

Mostly enjoyed as a snack or appetizer in the Southeast, you can find "goober peas" at roadside stands, stadiums, convenient stores and restaurants. It's also a popular snack in Hawaii. Boiled peanuts are also found throughout Asia in parts of India and China.