Boiled peanuts are literally raw peanuts (also known as “green” peanuts, green meaning young, not actually green) boiled in salt water for a very long time. You need the peanuts, the salt, and the water, but you can also add seasonings–my friend in Maryland uses Old Bay (of course!) for example..
1 pound raw peanuts*, in their shells
1 c. water
1/4 c. salt
Thoroughly wash the peanuts in running water until the water runs clean (you don’t want to boil the peanuts with residual dirt). Then soak them in cold water for about half an hour. Then combine the peanuts, water, and salt in a large pot (add more water to make sure the peanuts are covered) and bring to a boil. Then cover and boil away for 4-7 hours, tasting occasionally to test for your desired softness–the longer on the stove, the softer the peanut. Drain the peanuts and store in the refrigerator for a few days–left on the counter, they’ll spoil faster…Unless, of course, you’ve got eager tastebuds, in which case snack away.
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*Green peanuts are sold in supermarkets, but sometimes you might have to go to a more “specialty” place like Whole Foods. You can also find them in Asian markets. The other option is to purchase them over the Internet.
