After pure oils, nuts are the richest foods we eat. The weak cell walls of these fat seeds lend them an appealing tenderness, while their oils make them mouthwatering. This characteristic richness is what made prehistoric guys and gals value nuts for nourishment, and it’s what makes squirrels and people store them away today.
Peanuts, though actually legumes, are one of America’s most prized nuts. We love our PB&Js and our grandmas’ peanut butter cookies. But we aren’t the only ones who’ve gone nuts for them. They flourish in the hot climates of Africa and Southeast Asia, where you’ll find them in all kinds of creative recipes that find their sweet spot where salt, sugar, spice and citrus happily coexist.
Mr. Peanut wears many hats (not just the black top hat sported by a certain peanut mascot). His uniquely nutty flavor is the product of hundreds of distinct compounds that range from fruity and flowery to fried and smoky, many of which can be altered or amped up by various cooking processes. One reason that peanuts boiled in the shell taste so terrific is because the shells contain vanillin, a sweet flavor enhanced by boiling. Red peanut skins also contain antioxidants and other compounds that transfer a depth of flavor to the nuts within if left on during roasting.
Among nuts, peanuts are second only to pine nuts in terms of protein content (26 percent), which makes them a pretty hearty stand-in for meat. And they’re practically second to none in their penchant for playing well with other foods. Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg, authors of The Flavor Bible, list nearly 60 foods that love peanuts: cayenne, coffee, fish sauce, mole sauces, pork, shrimp, strawberries and red wine vinegar, to name a few.
Not Just Versatility. Also Variety.
There are four major groups of peanuts: Valencia, Virginia, Runners and Spanish.
Valencias, which include the popular ‘Georgia Red’ variety, are the most common peanut in home gardens and have a wonderfully sweet flavor. Virginias develop huge nuts that are great for snacking. Runners are a dependably tough stock grown for commercial peanut butter production, but I recommend trying super-oily and crisp Spanish peanuts for making your own peanut butter.
Having freshly dug, moist, “green” peanuts on hand is a treat, but note that these are only available immediately after the fall peanut harvest season. Raw peanuts are green peanuts that have been air-dried (rather than roasted) to reduce the moisture level for year-round storage. If you don’t have a local source of raw peanuts, search Local Harvest to find a supplier. The following recipes are best prepared with green or raw peanuts.
Recommended Green and Raw Peanut Sources
Bertie County Peanuts
Hardy Farms Peanuts
The Lee Bros. Boiled Peanuts Catalogue
Nuts Online
Whitley’s Peanut Factory
Peanut Recipes
Easy Roasted Peanuts in the Shell Recipe
Honey Roasted Peanuts Recipe
Old-Fashioned Boiled Peanuts Recipe
Southern Peanut Stew With Sweet Potatoes and Collard Greens Recipe
Fabulous Homemade Peanut Butter Recipe
Sweet and Spicy Peanut Brittle Recipe
Addictive Peanut Sauce Recipe