After my braised peanuts (click here for recipe), another way of cooking peanuts which I like is to make steamed peanuts. Vividly, I remember when I was young, I always liked to buy a pack of steamed peanuts from the stall in Pasar Malam (also known as night market). It was so addictive that I usually get two packs to satisfy my craving!
The last time I bought steamed peanuts from the Pasar Malam was couple of years back, but the price has escalated to $1.50 / $2 for a small pack. Probably there were only 10 or 15 peanuts? Having said that, now even if I wanna satisfy my steamed peanuts craving, the Pasar Malam is no longer so easily found around my vicinity (I am pretty sure you can find Pasar Malam in other places but they seem to be less frequently seen and I have no time to search for Pasar Malam just to buy the steamed peanuts).
Although this dish or rather titbits is called steamed peanuts, it is not cooked by steaming. Probably a decade ago, I stupidly tried to cook this by steaming but the shelled peanuts were never soft. I should called this, boiled peanuts. Usually, many just boil the peanuts with salt and water. I have added star anise and cinnamon for added fragrance. Do use raw peanuts.
I tried soaking the peanuts overnight but it doesn’t seem to produce softer peanuts in shorter time. It still took me close to 4 hours of boiling to achieve the soft texture I wanted. I used a mix of boiling on stove and slow cooker as I was rushing to run some errands.
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 4 hours
Tools
- Measuring spoon
- Pot
Ingredients
- 500g Raw peanuts, with shells
- 2.5 tablespoons salt
- 3 gloves of garlic
- 3 star anise
- 3 cinnamon
- Enough water to cover the peanuts
Directions
1. Wash the shells of the peanuts till clean and remove those spoilt ones.
2. Put the peanuts in a pot, add the star anise and cinnamon as well as salt followed by enough water to cover the peanuts. Peanuts tend to float on water, so push down the peanuts to measure the water.
3. Bring it to boil under high heat then simmer under low heat for 4 hours. Taste for preferred texture. If prefer softer texture, boil it longer. Look out for the amount of water. Serve.
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Thanks for your helpful tip. I bought a packed of raw peanuts, quite a medium size amount (enough for 2 persons or more). I like boiled peanuts a lot. Once I bought in Kunming, other times in Vietnam or other countries in SEA, It’s much cheaper in those countries. This Malay man selling in the Bukit Kuchai pasar malam along the busy Puchong road.
I steamed a bit this morning. Then after I read your post, I boiled the peanuts. The steamed ones were a a bit sandy. I think that is because I didn’t scrub the nuts. Boiling it should get at least some of the soil off the shells.
By the way, the cost of the peanuts was RM5 which I think is rather cheap. The color of the peanut is reddish. Tastes real nice. I didn’t steam the nuts a long time and then I resumed the cooking by boiling the nuts. I couldn’t wait too long to eat it. After all the peanuts can be eaten raw like walnuts. Still it is not recommended to eat the peanuts raw. Have to research this matter further. But it is better to eat such nuts as walnuts, almonds etc. raw. More nutritious.
Sorry for the long message.
Regards,
Thank you for your message.
Your pic showed garlic too but you didn’t mention it in the recipe, so I will add the garlic, can’t hurt.
Thank you for your feedback! I have just amended the ingredients list.