Instructions
- Cook raw peanuts in boiling water for 1-2 minutes.
- Drain peanuts and rinse in cool running water to prevent them from cooking further.
- Line a baking tray with paper towels and place the drained peanuts on it.
- Let the peanuts sit for 30 to 60 minutes to dry out excess water.
- Heat cooking oil in a deep pan and add the dried peanuts.
- Lower the heat and cook for 25-35 minutes; stir often to avoid the peanuts from burning.
- When you hear the peanuts pop, add the sliced garlic.
- Stir often until the garlic turns golden brown.
- Drain the cooked peanuts in a colander when the mixture is already reddish-brown; shake off excess oil.
- Sprinkle with salt and add the sliced cayenne pepper. Mix well.
- Cool the spicy salted peanuts before serving.
This is a bold, snack-worthy peanut dish built for people who don’t shy away from garlic or heat. Raw peanuts get a quick boil first, which softens them and shortens the frying time that follows, then they’re dried before going into hot oil for a slow fry until they turn crisp and take on a deep reddish-brown color.
The real punch comes at the end. A generous amount of thinly sliced garlic goes into the oil right as the peanuts start popping, frying alongside them until it turns golden and crunchy rather than raw and sharp, which mellows it just enough while keeping that unmistakable roasted garlic aroma. Sliced cayenne peppers and salt get tossed in right after draining, so the heat sits on the surface of each peanut rather than cooking into it, giving a sharp, spicy kick that hits after the initial garlicky crunch. The peanuts themselves turn out crunchy and toasty from the slow oil frying, with the fried garlic adding little crisp bits throughout. It’s a straightforward snack, but an intense one, built for sharing over drinks rather than eating quietly on your own.
Notes
--> To infuse the oil with flavor, brown the garlic first, then remove and set aside once it turns golden and crispy. Next, add the peanuts to cook. This infuses the peanuts with extra garlic flavor.
--> You can replace the cayenne pepper with chili powder or cayenne powder. Add in small amounts, to your liking. Store in an airtight container to keep them fresh longer. These will keep well for days.