OT: Goober Peas

Gator Bait

 
I haven't made them in a long time and had a hankering for some boiled peanuts. Fresh peanuts probably make the best boiled peanuts but are hard to find and can be pricey. Next best thing are dried raw peanuts, $3.29 for a 2 pound bag at the grocery store. For dried peanuts the low and slow is necessary and the crock pot is ideal. I dumped the nuts, 4 tablespoons of fine sea salt and water to fill into the crock pot and set it to high. After a few hours the peanuts will fill with brine and sink allowing room for more water to be added. What you can see on top of the water is the peanut oil cooking out of the peanuts.


This is a great job to do outdoors, the wet, hot peanut shells have a strong aroma that you do not have to fill the house with. It is sort of a strong cross between a wet dog and a hot wet bale of hay. I do mine out on the patio table.

Dried nuts will take considerably longer than fresh. I gave these a stir every now and then and let them do their thing for about 18-20 hours. The amount of time will determine how soft you want them, just let them cook till you like them.

Tender, hot and just the right amount of salt and these are yummy.


Cajun style boiled peanuts are easy with the addition of pepper flakes or slices of jalapeño or what ever you like for heat. If you use salt with a different size grain/crystal it will measure differently. For example, table salt (a finer grain) will take less as there is more salt per spoonful. The opposite would be true for a courser salt and you might need more. I measured most of these into plastic freezer bags and threw them in the freezer. When I am ready for them they will nuke just fine.

Blair

 

Firetruck

Thanks for the how too. Never knew they took that long. I've only bought them on the side of the road. May try that before too long.

elzbth

As always, the photographs are great.... Personally, I've never cared for peanuts - so many of my family/friends love them - especially boiled. Hope you enjoyed them!

Gator Bait

 
Hi JoJo, the dried peanuts take quiet a while, as I understand fresh peanuts will take about 1/4 the time and I am guessing will have a creamier texture. I first had them from roadside vendors but don't see them down here like I have a little further north.

Blair

 

FlaPoolman

I actually prefer the dried ones and after the first few hours will crank up the heat and add sliced jalapeno and fingerhot peppers. Usually takes about 6 hours for 5 pounds and they won't last long around here

Hoss

NYUM_NYUM_NYUM_NYUM_NYUM!!!! :woohoo:

misfit

That is some good eats right there. Further North, a former Florida boy can't find those up in Michigan. BTW Blair, 21 and snowing, this ain't the Suncoast...

Hoss

How ya doin friend???

Hoss

Not even ROASTED??? :huh:

Gator Bait

 
Thanks Elizabeth, I haven't met to many people that do not like peanuts but I can understand it. It's amazing how our tastes vary. I have one friend that doesn't like jello, any flavor. LOL. I had a buddy growing up the hated the taste of milk. I have a long list of veggies I don't like because my mother cooked them to death.

Blair


 

eenie meenie

Blair, I've never had a 'goober pea', but I like the name, lol.

It now officially your birthday, so Happy Birthday Blair!

Gator Bait

 
Hahaha, You took a wrong turn somewhere Misfit! I moved down here from New England in 1983 and have been back north once about 20 years ago . . . it was way too cold! :laugh:

Blair


 

misfit

Thanks Hoss, good up here, just a bit chilly for the next few months. Hey, a belated Happy Birthday to ya.

misfit

I am finding that out now, just gotta dress for it...

misfit

How about that, Happy Birthday Gator Bait.

Gator Bait

 
Hey Rebecca,

Boiled Peanuts or Goober Peas are a true southern delicacy. I had to be introduced to them by a southern buddy. They are a lot like a roasted peanut but wet and soft.

Thanks Rebecca, I am now officially 60! LOL, My mind says I'm 30 but my body says 60 isn't that far off. LOL.

Thank God for Birthdays, where would we be with out them?


Blair


 

Hoss

Thanks friend.

Gator Bait

 
Ain't that the truth. When I lived on Mount Desert Island, Maine (near Bar Harbor) I would hitch hike into town for something to do. Some days it would be -35º. The mail man would pick me up and I would stuff mail boxes for him while he drove along. You either dressed for it or froze, it was your choice. LOL, I don't miss it very much.


 

Gator Bait

 
Thanks misfit, It's always nice to make it another year.

Blair

 

misfit

Yup, I hear ya, the clock is running... Bet we all can still get a few more years under our belt.
Take care my Friend.

Gator Bait

Hi Pat,

I have never had them made from fresh, I'm to cheep to shell out for them. I would try your method of turning up the heat but the crock pot is the only thing I have to cook them in. I'm not crazy about crock pot cookery but it works pretty good here. I'm the only member of our family that likes boiled peanuts so when I make them they are all for me! LOL.

Blair


 

Gator Bait

 
Half of me is jumping up and down with joy for making it to 60, the other half of me is a bit stunned and thinks 60 is starting to get up there. Confused? Yes. Loving every minute of it? You bet! :laugh:


 

FlaPoolman

Understand, I make them in the old turkey fryer and got the pepper and other spices idea from a guy that had a stand in Ocala "Daves boiled peanuts" dang they were good. We would buy 2-3 pounds and leave a trail of shells from Ocala to Melbourne. :woohoo:

Gator Bait

 
Sounds great Pat, I can't take to much heat but if I see Cajun and regulars side by side in a store I will mix them, I love them that way. I imagine you could add some of a favorite rub to the brine. I was wondering earlier what it would be like if you used a couple packages of Onion Soup in place of the salt? Hahahaha, it may be terrible, it was just a wild idea. I think it is a little strange we do not see the stands or vendors on the side of the road down here. I get a little leery about buying them in some of these convenience stores and I wonder how long they have been there or how long it has been since the cooker was scrubbed out.


 

Hoss

add a little cottage cheeze and roasted pecans and call it congelled salad.they will LOVE IT.LIME is best!

Hoss

HAPPYHAPPY DAY my friend!

Gator Bait

 
Hahaha, I always thought it was an unwritten law of nature that everybody loved at least one flavor of jello! For many, many years I cooked for my parents when they were to old to do a good job of it and Jello was a quick and easy dessert with just a dollop of Cool Whip on top of it. They would purrr like kittens just over a simple bowl of jello! Oh well, to each their own. :laugh:

 

Gator Bait

 
Thanks my friend Hoss and many back at ya.

Blair

 

AZRP

I made a batch yesterday with cayenne pepper and garlic powder, came out real good. -RP

elzbth

Cottage cheese and anything is a no go at my house - even with Jello!

elzbth

Just one of my oddball quirks....I eat dry roasted on occasion - peanut butter is great. It's just that as nuts go, peanuts are my least favortie, and in most instances I skip them. Growing up I had an uncle that worked in a peanut mill and he was always giving us peanuts - guess I just got sick of them.