I am not particularly strict on a lot of parenting issues, but I have always been particular about my kid’s sleeping and eating schedule (That is, until baby number 4 came). After a crazy, hurried morning, I realized the children had not eaten a “proper” breakfast.  I looked around and saw the remnants of peanut shells and sticky root-beer.

“Ugh, what kind of mom feeds her kids boiled peanuts and root-beer for breakfast?!?!”  My 4 year old overhead and cheerfully piped in, “A really awesome mom.  Boiled peanuts are the best breakfast ever!”

I have loosened up quite a bit since then.  After all, he was right.  Boiled peanuts are the best and they do have protein in them.  Watermelon, grilling out, and boiled peanuts are definitely synonymous with summer in Georgia.  I had the privilege of living in south Georgia for over 20 years.  Peanuts, soybeans, corn and cotton were the biggest crops around that area.

We all developed a love for the decadent salty treat. As my grandmother used to say, “We could eat our weight in them.”

In south Georgia, we had several friends who were farmers. We would get a bushel or two of green peanuts straight from the fields. Because the peanuts were so fresh, we had to wash them multiple times to get the sand and grit off them.  With the kids being so young, it became quite the event!  They loved to “help” clean the peanuts. Over the years, we got creative with our rinsing methods.  A baby pool and garden hose were definitely the most effective.  Oh, how I miss those simple days in the country when my babies were so excited to spend the day outside with a garden hose and peanuts.

Several years ago, we traded in our country life for a lake life. Now, my babies are teenagers, but they still love the taste of boiled peanuts and our memories living in the country.  Finding boiled peanuts at road-side stands and farmers markets are few and far between.

To this day, we take every opportunity to get a brown bag of soggy, salty goodness. Some may say it is an “acquired taste,” but I think anyone inclined to have a savory palate would fall in love with them.

If you haven’t tried boiled peanuts, you are definitely missing out!

While it is easy to boil the peanuts yourself, I have recently found a recipe to help get our “fix” with less fuss…a tried and true Crock-Pot!  Believe it or not, you can find bags of RAW peanuts in the refrigerated section of the produce aisle in many grocery stores.  A dear family friend shared this recipe with me. Thank you Miss Judy Mc!

This method produces the perfect salty goodness-not too mushy and not too salty.

This method of cooking boiled peanuts is so easy.  Simply rinse the peanuts in cold water to remove any sand or grit. Then empty the bag in the slow cooker and add salt and water.  Make sure you add enough water to allow 1-2 inches of water over the peanuts.  You only need to stir the peanuts a couple of times throughout the cooking process – every couple of hours.  After the peanuts have been cooking on HIGH for 6 hours, you will want to do a “taste-test” to test the texture and salt content.  While our family can eat boiled peanuts at any consistency, we prefer they be a bit al dente (slightly firm and less soggy).

The peanuts will continue to cook and absorb the salty water if you keep them in the water.   So, you will need to drain the peanuts when they reach your desired taste and texture (usually between 6-8 hours).  If you leave them in the salty water, they will absorb too much salt and the peanuts will become briny and virtually un-edible.

Note:  Feel free to add to or take away the amount of salt you use.  There is no true science to this.  It is all a matter of taste and preference.

So, try this easy recipe and taste a bit of a summer southern tradition-GEORGIA STYLE!

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Boiled Peanuts

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

6 hrs

 

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: boiled peanuts, boiledpnuts,, crockpotdelicacy

Ingredients

• 2 lb Bag of raw, green peanuts
• 1/4 c Kosher salt
• water

Instructions

1. Empty bag of peanuts in a colander and rinse with cold water

2. Place peanuts in a slow cooker

3. Pour water over peanuts (allowing a few inches of water above the peanuts)

4. Pour salt over the peanuts and stir

5. Place lid on cooker and cook on HIGH for 6 to 8 hours

6. Stir occasionally (every hour or so)

7. Turn off cooker and carefully drain water

Recipe Notes

Stir the peanuts occasionally throughout the cooking process (every hour or so). Do not stir too often.  After the peanuts have been cooking 6 hours, you will want to do a "taste-test" to test the texture and salt content. 

The peanuts will continue to cook and absorb the salty water if you keep them in the water.  So, you will need to drain the peanuts when they reach your desired taste and texture (usually between 6-8 hours).  If you leave them in the salty water, they will absorb too much salt and the peanuts will become briny and virtually un-edible.

Note:  Feel free to add to or take away the amount of salt you use.  There is no true science to this.  It is all a matter of taste and preference.