Cajun Boiled Peanuts Recipe

Boiled Peanuts Recipe

I love southern boiled peanuts. Growing up in the north, I never had boiled peanuts. The only time I ever saw them was at local carnivals, served out of shiny trailers. The idea of them just sounded weird.

It wasn't until we visited Charleston in South Carolina that I had a chance to try them homemade.

In the southern United States, you'll find boiled peanuts at gas stations, roadside stands and farmers markets. They're a southern staple.

Check out the post on my Foodie Trip to Charleson, SC, here.

If you've never had boiled peanuts, you owe it to yourself to print this recipe. Go make some right away. You will thank me for it.

Boiled Peanuts Vs. Roasted Peanuts

The thing I never realized is that peanuts grow under the ground. The peanut pods form below ground, with the plant and leaves above.

You pull them from the dirt, and they are raw. And green. You need to clean them and cook them before eating them.

Roasted peanuts are crunchy and hard after roasting. Boiled peanuts, on the other hand, are soft and rather squishy in texture. Much like a bean. You peel them and pluck them from their shells.

And enjoy them! If you're used to roasted peanuts, you might be surprised by the difference in texture. The flavor, though, is outstanding. Boiled peanuts absorb so much more flavor than roasted.

Let's talk about how to make boiled peanuts, shall we?

Cajun Boiled Peanuts Ingredients

• Green Raw Peanuts. In the shell.
• Concentrated Shrimp and Crab Boil. Try Zatarain's New Orleans Style Liquid Crab Boil - Affiliate link, my friends).
• Cajun or Creole Seasoning Blend. Or, try my seafood boil seasoning recipe.
• Salt.
• Habanero Peppers. Sliced in half (optional – use can omit or use other peppers to your own heat level preference).
• Hot Sauce of Choice. A few tablespoons will do, but add as much as you’d like! – Tabasco or Crystal are PERFECT for this recipe.
• Water. To cover the peanuts.

How to Make Boiled Peanuts - The Recipe Method

First, add the peanuts to a large pot. Pour in enough water to cover the peanuts. It's usually a couple gallons of water, depending on the size of your pot.

Stir in the shrimp and crab boil liquid and Cajun seasonings (or Creole seasonings) with salt. You can also add in garlic powder to the salted water if you love garlic.

Add the habanero peppers, if using them. They add a very good level of heat to the whole batch.

Dash in your hot sauce and give it a good stir.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Partially cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 5 hours. Check it periodically to push the peanuts under the seasoned cooking liquid.

Cool to Room Temperature. You can eat the peanuts now if you’d like, but to develop more flavor, cover and set the pot into the refrigerator.

Refrigerate overnight to let the flavors develop. The peanuts will become much more infused with the seasonings as they steep in the liquid.

When you're ready to eat them, just reheat them on the stove top and enjoy.

BOOM! Easy, right? I love a good easy spicy snack, the traditional southern way.

Can You Eat Raw Green Peanuts? Do They Have to be Cooked?

You should not eat raw green peanuts. Most raw nuts are safe to eat, but raw peanuts can be contaminated by a mold called Apergillus flavus. This can be potentially dangerous to people and even animals.

There is no guarantee raw green peanuts will be contaminated, but cooking them is the safest measure.

Here is what they look like raw, still in the shell.

Crock Pot or Slow Cooker Boiled Peanuts

Can I make boiled peanuts in a crock pot? Yes, you can also make boiled peanuts in a slow cooker or crock pot. Basically, follow the main recipe, but add everything to your slow cooker. Cover the ingredients with enough water to cover.

Set your crock pot to low and cook them low and slow. Your cooking time is 24 hours.

Then, enjoy! I'll have to make some in my pressure cooker, too. See how they turn out!

How to Eat Boiled Peanuts

Eat boiled peanuts by peeling open the shells, then plucking the nuts out. This is slightly harder than peeling roasted peanuts, as roasted peanuts are more solid.

Boiled peanuts are softer. The shells pull apart easily, but the softer nuts do not always fall out. You need to pull them out sometimes.

Also, I like to heat my boiled peanuts before eating them. You can eat them cold, though.

Storing Boiled Peanuts

Store boiled peanuts in airtight containers with a bit of the steeping liquid in the refrigerator. They will keep for a week or longer.

They will keep 6 months if frozen.

That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy my Cajun boiled peanuts recipe! They're AWESOME.

Go get snacking!

Try Some of These Other Popular Southern Recipes

• Cajun Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
• Shrimp Creole
• Seriously Awesome Jambalaya
• Maque Choux (Cajun Corn)
• Cajun Red Beans and Rice
• Hoppin' John
• Low Country Boil

Also, try my spiced nuts recipe and my Homemade Spicy Snack Mix recipe! You'll love them!