Apple Cider Vinegar Is An Essential When Making Boiled Peanuts
BY ELIZABETH OKOSUN
Boiled peanuts, an iconic Southern snack, are offered at restaurants, bars, gas stations, and more. If you're not in the south, you can easily make boiled peanuts at home.
These soft, earthy legumes can be cooked with just boiling water and salt, but adding other flavorings enhances the taste. Apple cider vinegar is the secret for more complexity.
This vinegar made from fermented apples infuses boiled peanuts with a sweet, tangy flavor and balances any savory herbs or spices you add, creating the perfect snack.
Soak unshelled peanuts in a mixture of salt, apple cider vinegar, and water before boiling them. This both adds flavor and softens them to reduce the cooking time.
To soak them, pour the peanuts into a pot and cover them with water, salt, and a few splashes of apple cider vinegar. Leave the mixture to soak for a few hours to overnight.
Next, drain and rinse the peanuts and refill the pot with water, salt, spices, and more vinegar. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer the peanuts for one to two hours.
Check on the peanuts occasionally to see if they've lost their hard texture. Once the peanuts are tender, drain them and serve alone or with drinks and other snacks.