Poking around the produce section of my grocery store I found a real treat…fresh peanuts. They’re green peanuts. They’ve not been shelled or roasted, just picked and sent to me. Ready to boil to make this snack. Boiled peanuts. All three of us love these as well as the rest of my family. I was introduced to them when I went to school in Georgia. Friends of mine had all kinds of tips and pointers for me. My friend Parks told me how her daddy’s favorite boiled peanut stand was on a road outside of Athens, Georgia on the way into the university. My college boyfriend initiated me to the joys of boiled peanuts at Southern gas stations So here’s the delicacy that makes everyone just a little happier. Except maybe your doctors. These precious goobers are highly addictive so watch out. You can add flavorings to the salty water making them completely to your liking. A handful of fresh garlic gloves make these tremendous and adding red pepper flakes makes my heart sing. Often they’re eaten outside where you can throw the shell in the grass or on the ground. If you plan on storing them make sure you keep them in the salty water in which they were cooked. It keeps them fresh two or three days longer in the refrigerator. Just a few years ago when Dana, Andrea and I went on girl’s weekend at Hawks Cay I found them at some gas station in Islamorada. Driving around after a full day of sun with a styrofoam cup of boiled peanuts and cold gallon jug of rum punch in the back seat makes for three very happy girls. Oh, wait! I forgot to tell you they’re divine made in a crock pot. Can it get any easier? I think not. So I, for one, am going to count my blessings and pony up to a big pot of boiled peanuts. Or as they say in the South “boll” peanuts.
Southern Boiled Peanuts
- 8 cups fresh, green peanuts in the shell, rinsed
- 1 cup of table salt
- 2-3 tablespoons red pepper flakes or a handful of fresh, peeled garlic cloves, both are optional
- a large pot of water
- Add salt and washed peanuts to the pot of water along with red pepper flakes or garlic if using and bring to a boil.
- Maintain a medium bubble and boil for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
If made in a crock pot use the same ingredients but add a couple of tablespoons of salt for every quart of water used. Cook in crock pot 4 to five hours or all day depending on your taste. The longer they sit in that salty water the saltier and tastier they become.
The Irreverent Kitchen 
I would like to tell everyone the boiled peanuts that we had from the gas station were not close to being as good as your boiled peanuts Missy!!!! Also, I would like to clarify, I waited till we got home to drink the rum punch since I was driving….. :-D. Going to make these to take up to Old Town for Memorial weekend. Thanks for posting this…..Love you!!!!
Oooooh, I know you’ll love them! And btw, YOU DID NOT WAIT. Love you, too!! xoxo