Chinese Boiled Peanuts Recipe

Boiled peanuts are packed with flavor, and require almost no attention once they're set to simmer.

Updated May 15, 2019

Boiled peanuts are one of the world's great snacks. In this recipe, a combination of soy sauce, sugar, and warm spices flavor the peanuts as they simmer. One pound of peanuts seems like a lot until you start shelling and popping them in your mouth. You'll be putting on another pot of seasoned water before you know it.

Chinese Boiled Peanuts

Recipe Details

Chinese Boiled Peanuts Recipe

Active 10 mins

Total 2 hrs

Serves 6 servings

Ingredients

1 pound raw unshelled peanuts
1/4 cup dark soy sauce
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 stick cinnamon, about 3 inches in length
1 star anise
2 cloves
1 dried chile, optional

Directions

Wash peanuts in several changes of water to get rid of residual dirt. Add peanuts to 3 quart saucepan with enough water to barely cover. Add soy sauce, sugar, salt, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and dried chili.
Place pot over high heat and bring to boil. Lower heat to steady but not rolling boil and cook for 3 to 5 hours, depending on how tender you like your peanuts. Check on pot every hour to make sure liquid doesn't dry out. Refill with water, if needed, so that level of liquid just covers peanuts. Alternatively, place water, peanuts, and seasonings in a slow cooker and cook overnight.
With slotted spoon, retrieve peanuts from braising liquid and serve warm or tepid. Store leftover peanuts in their stewing liquid in the refrigerator.

Special equipment

3-quart saucepan

This Recipe Appears In

Chinese Boiled Peanuts

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
385	Calories
31g	Fat
17g	Carbs
17g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	385
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g	40%
Saturated Fat 4g	20%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1300mg	57%
Total Carbohydrate 17g	6%
Dietary Fiber 6g	20%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 64mg	5%
Iron 3mg	17%
Potassium 489mg	10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.