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Amendoim cozido

Amendoim cozido: raw peanuts boiled in their shells in salted water, a June festival snack

Steaming paper bags of boiled peanuts are sold in São João squares from Campina Grande to the interior of São Paulo, and families cook pots of them at home when the fresh peanut harvest comes in around June. Boiled in the shell in well-salted water, the peanuts turn soft, juicy and almost bean-like, with a savoury, slightly sweet taste quite different from roasted peanuts. You crack them open with your fingers and slurp the salty water out with the nut. You need raw peanuts in the shell, either fresh (green) or dried; roasted ones never soften. Under-salting is the beginner's slip: the shell blocks a lot of salt, so the water should taste like the sea. Chef's tip: let the peanuts sit in their cooking water for 30 minutes off the heat before draining, so the salt soaks through to the nut.
Total time
60 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
6
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Ingredients

Serves6

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Rinse 1 ⅛ lb raw peanuts in the shell well in a bowl of water, rubbing off any soil, and drain. Throw away any that float with cracked or empty shells.

  2. Step 2: Put the peanuts in a large pan with 12 ½ cups water and 3 tbsp coarse salt. Put a small plate on top to keep them under the water.

  3. Step 3: Bring to the boil, then simmer for 50 minutes for fresh peanuts, or up to 1 hour 30 minutes for dried ones, until the nut inside is soft like a cooked bean. Top up with boiling water as needed.

    50 min
  4. Step 4: Turn off the heat and leave the peanuts in the water for 30 minutes, then taste one; leave longer if you want them saltier.

  5. Step 5: Drain and serve warm in bowls, with a second bowl for the shells.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
280 kcal
Protein
13 g
Carbs
10 g
Fat
22 g
Fibre
4 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does amendoim cozido take?
About 60 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 55 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.

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