Chinese Boiled Peanuts

Method6 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Soak the565 g fresh raw in-shell peanuts in enough unseasoned water to cover for30 minutes to loosen dirt. Wash them thoroughly and drain, discarding that water. Repeat washing if needed until it runs clear; reserve the measured6 cups of brine water for cooking.

   Loosen dirt on peanut shells:30 minutes · 30 minUses 565 g fresh raw green peanuts, in the shell (source:20 oz) · Shell-cleaning water; drain and discard

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Gently pinch the pointier end of each cleaned peanut between thumb and index finger to crack the shell just open. This lets the seasoned brine reach the peanut inside.

   Uses washed and drained in-shell peanuts

   
3. 3

   Step 3: Put all the cracked-shell peanuts into a medium pot with6 cups of fresh cooking water. Add only enough extra water to cover the peanuts fully. Add1 tbsp sea salt,1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns,1 small cinnamon stick,3 bay leaves and1–2 star anise pods; use1 pod for a lighter flavor or2 for stronger flavor. Add optional extra salt only to taste.

   Uses cleaned peanuts with cracked shells · 6 cups water for the seasoned cooking brine; add more only if needed to cover · Additional cooking water only as needed to keep the peanuts covered · 1 tbsp sea salt for the cooking brine, plus optional extra to taste · 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns · 1 small cinnamon stick · 3 bay leaves · 1–2 star anise pods:1 for lighter flavor or2 for stronger flavor

   
4. 4

   Step 4: Bring the assembled pot to a boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer gently for45–60 minutes. Open a cooled test peanut to check the edible kernels: the author prefers a slight bite, while softer peanuts need longer simmering. Keep the peanuts covered by brine, adding only as much extra cooking water as needed.

   Simmer peanuts:45–60 minutes · 60 minUses peanuts in the seasoned cooking brine · Additional cooking water only if needed to maintain coverage

   
5. 5

   Step 5: Turn off the heat and let the peanuts continue absorbing the brine briefly with the lid on. Cool promptly and refrigerate the peanuts in their brine until cold; an overnight refrigerated soak gives the fuller flavor suggested by the author. Keep leftovers refrigerated in brine so they do not dry out.

   Uses cooked peanuts and seasoned brine

6. 6

   Step 6: Drain just the portion you want to serve and enjoy cold. Open and discard the shells to eat the peanut kernels; the whole spices and brine are for flavoring, not mandatory edible serving components. Keep the remaining peanuts refrigerated in brine.

   Uses Actual selected serving portion; retain any remainder cold in brine