Raw Peanuts

You can call them groundnuts, pygmy nuts, earth nuts, goober peas, monkey nuts or pig nuts, but you cannot deny their presence in our everyday life. I am talking about our very own peanuts, which are known by these various local names. Peanuts have become an essential part of our daily diet and are so popular, that they accompany us from soccer matches to circuses and from breakfast to cocktail parties. Eating raw peanuts have lot health benefits, as they contain various minerals and vitamins that promote healthy body growth.

Nutrition Facts

Peanuts are high on protein, dietary fibers, iron, magnesium, and antioxidants, which make them a tasty, filling, yet healthy snack food. That is why a handful of peanuts with a little jaggery is the most advisable breakfast for people with severe anemia and other hemoglobin deficiency diseases. Peanuts contain natural mono-saturated fats, which are easy to dissolve in the blood and healthy for the heart. Doctors also advise inclusion of peanuts in everyday diet, as it reduces the risk of stroke, colon cancer, and heart diseases. They contain less calories compared to other nuts such as cashew, almonds, and hazelnut and can be consumed by the calorie conscious as well.

Nutrient	Nutritional Value
Protein	37.7 g
Carbohydrates	23.50 g
Calcium	134 mg
Magnesium	245 mg
Ash	3.4 g
Water	9.5 g
Fats	71.9 g
Calories	3467 KJ
Dietary fiber	12.4 g
Iron	6.7 mg
Phosphorous	549 mg
Potassium	1.30 mg
Manganese	2.8 mg
Sodium	26.57 mg

How to Roast the Peanuts

There are two ways you can roast the peanuts. You can either roast them in a saucepan or roast them in an oven or microwave. First, you need to uncover the peanuts. Then keep a saucepan on the gas. Once it gets hot, put in the uncovered peanuts and keep them stirring at regular intervals. After some time, they will exude a typical aroma and the brown peanut coats will get dark brown spots on it. This indicates that the peanuts are now properly roasted. You can peel the brown coating and store the peanuts at room temperature. For oven and microwave, follow the procedure prescribed in the manual and roast peanuts at the desired temperature. If you want to enhance the taste of the dry roasted peanuts, dash them with a little salt and your salted peanuts are ready. You can also try other flavors such as cheese, caramel or mint, it brings a healthy change for your taste buds.

How to Boil the Peanuts

There are many ways you can boil peanuts and each of these methods give a different taste. You can boil covered or uncovered peanuts in a pressure cooker. First, put water in the cooker and let it boil. Once the water is boiled, add the raw covered peanuts to the water and close the lid. If you want salted boiled peanuts, then add some salt to the water and stir it. Make sure to add enough salt and water as the peanuts will soak them while getting boiled. After 3-4 whistles, switch off the gas and wait till the pressure cooker cools down. Now open the cooker and drain the excess water from the boiled peanuts. Uncover the boiled peanuts and they are ready to eat. You can store them in a refrigerator to preserve them, however, it is suggested to consume them as early as possible. If you wish to preserve them for long, you need to dry the boiled peanuts so as to remove all the water content from them. You can dry them with or without cover in a microwave or a drying machine. Once dried, you can peel the coating and store them at room temperature.

There are many recipes, such as peanut brittle, broccoli-peanut salad, and sugar peanuts, etc., which are full of health benefits.

Peanut Brittle

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 bowl of raw uncovered peanuts
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon soda
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence

Directions

Keep water to boil in a vessel on high flame. Once the water is boiled, add sugar to it and stir well as sugar dissolves completely. When this sugar syrup becomes thick, add peanuts to it. Let the peanuts cook on low flame until they turn golden brown. Now add butter, soda and vanilla to the mixture. Spread this mixture on a greasy plate or a sheet. Once the mixture cools down, break it into small pieces. This can serve as a very handy, healthy and energetic snack.

You can try cooking food with peanut cooking oil, as it has a strong aroma and a distinguishing taste. You can toss some peanuts on your daily salad or add some peanut chunks to chicken gravy or other vegetable soups, that will increase nutritional value and enhance the taste as well.

Raw peanuts are very healthy and nutritious, and adding them to your daily diet is recommended. However, needless to say, if you are susceptible to peanut allergies, you will have to avoid this nutritious legume altogether. Otherwise, you have all the right to go nuts over peanuts.