Looking for some quick and easy, yet flavorful snack ideas? Well, you are in the right spot! Take a flavor trip around the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, India and South America, exploring some of the exotic and authentic peanut flavors. These peanut snacks, developed by our registered dietitian nutritionist Sherry Coleman Collins, will leave you and your family or friends the happiest snackers ever. Not only are these incredibly easy to make but with just a few ingredient swaps, you can experience new flavor profiles every single time you make them. Start with a 5-minute base recipe, then swap spices and add herbs to create new and exciting combinations. Feel free to customize these recipes to your preferences.
Base Recipe
Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients
1 teaspoon peanut oil
1 cups unsalted peanuts
1 tablespoons spices
In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Stir in the peanuts and toast for about 1 minute. Next, stir in the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes or until spices smell fragrant. Remove peanuts from the pan to drain well on paper towels. Serve warm or at room temperature. Recipe proportion can be doubled to make a larger batch to share.
Crunchy Indian Spiced Peanuts
Follow the recipe above with the following spice mixture: 1 ½ teaspoons curry powder, ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¾ teaspoon of lime juice. Add all of the spices as indicated in the recipe above, but add the lime juice at the very end of cooking. Grate over a bit of the zest from the lime for added citrus punch. If you love Indian food, you will definitely love this mix. This is the perfect filling snack to keep you going all day long.
Hot and Spicy Peanuts Reminiscent of Mexico and Central America
Use the base recipe provided with the following spice mixture: 1 teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic salt and ¼ teaspoon of cumin. For this recipe, add a dash of ground red pepper to add heat, or a pinch of sugar to offset some of the spice. This recipe packed with protein will really rock your peanut-loving world.
Fried Peanuts with Southeast Asian Flavors
Follow the base recipe with this spice blend: 1 ½ teaspoons of chili paste (Sambal Oelek), ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder. Add 1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice at the end of cooking, plus a bit of lime zest if you like. As an additional option, consider adding 1 tablespoon of minced cilantro when the peanuts have cooled slightly. This recipe will definitely help you stay energized throughout the day.
Delicious Mediterranean Peanuts
Refer to the base recipe with spices as follows: 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon of dried basil, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. At the end of cooking, add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and a bit of lemon zest. You may also like to include 1 tablespoon of minced fresh parsley for a bit of added freshness. This recipe is bursting with peanut flavor, the smell of oregano and the crunchiness of tasty peanuts.
Whether you’re a fan of spicy Indian or Mediterranean flavors, these exotic peanut recipes from around the world will be a reality right into your kitchen. Happy cooking!