Boiled peanuts are a southern staple that people seem to either love or hate. There’s no middle ground here: your vote is either in the “soggy mush” camp or the “delicious snack” one.
Boiled peanuts are common in the Deep South, especially South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and norther Florida. They are essentially unroasted peanuts boiled in their shells in salty water for a long period of time. The peanuts become soggy and actually taste more like legumes than peanuts.
You’ll find boiled peanuts at roadside stands, farmers markets, festivals, fairs and sporting events. In fact, Tony the Peanut Man is a fixture at Charleston RiverDogs games as he makes his way through the stands selling boiled peanuts.
Boiled peanuts are also eaten in Africa, so they may have been introduced to the southern United States by African slaves. Another account of boiled peanut history traces the food’s roots to the Civil War when little food was available to Confederate soldiers, making peanuts a source of nutrition. Plus, with limited cooking facilities, peanuts were easy to roast or boil.
Want to make your own? Check out this recipe from kitchn.com.
Regardless of how they came to be, Southerners all over are addicted to this soggy snack. And even a few Yankees have come to embrace the boiled peanuts’ place at the snack table.
Cast your vote on boiled peanuts: love ’em or hate ’em?
