Spicy Boiled Peanuts

Spicy boiled peanuts are a Southern staple that’s ridiculously addictive and tantalizingly tangy.

With a hint of sweetness and a kick of heat, these babies will become your new obsession.

By simmering peanuts in a spicy brine for hours, you’ll unlock a flavor so deep and complex it’s almost sinful.

Ready Time

4 hrs

Yields

4 servings

Ingredients

1 pound raw peanuts
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco or Frank’s RedHot)

Instructions

Rinse the raw peanuts in cold water, then drain and set them aside. In a large pot, combine the salt, sugar, water, and hot sauce.

Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar and salt have dissolved.

Add the peanuts to the pot and stir to coat them evenly with the spicy liquid. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for about 6-8 hours or overnight, stirring occasionally, until the peanuts have absorbed most of the liquid and are coated in the spicy flavor.

Remove the pot from the heat and let the peanuts cool in the brine.

Let them sit at room temperature for at least 24 hours to allow them to absorb even more flavor. After 24 hours, drain the peanuts and rinse them under cold running water to remove excess brine.

Spread them out in a single layer on a paper towel-lined plate or tray to dry.

Let the peanuts air-dry for at least 24 hours, stirring occasionally, until they’re dry and crunchy. Serve and store your spicy boiled peanuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

For a smaller batch, simply halve the ingredients, and for a larger batch, multiply them accordingly. Raw peanuts can be substituted with green peanuts for a slightly different flavor and texture.

If you prefer a milder flavor, start with half the amount of hot sauce and adjust to taste.

During the simmering process, you can occasionally add more water to the pot if the liquid level gets too low, but avoid over-diluting the spicy liquid. To speed up the drying process, you can spread the peanuts out in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them in a low-temperature oven (150°F – 200°F) for a few hours.

Keep an eye on them to avoid over-drying.