Dry Roasted Peanuts
These dry roasted peanuts are an addictive snack. They don’t require oil or frying, which makes them easy and healthy. Plus, there are many different flavored peanuts to experiment with!
Peanuts are both a healthy and quick snack! There are many different methods of preparation. Some of the most common ways to cook peanuts are frying or roasting, both of which require oil. Dry roasted peanuts are similar to roasted peanuts, but no oil is used. So, this makes the peanuts even healthier. Oil is typically used to help the seasonings stick to the peanuts. Since this recipe does not use oil, the seasonings are mixed in hot water to help them stick.
Here, I’ve written how to either roast peanuts in an oven or make microwave peanuts. In addition to different cooking methods, there are many different flavored peanuts to try. For example, I’ve included the following:
- Five-spice peanuts
- Garlic peanuts
- Sour plum (酸梅, suan mei) peanuts
- Curry powder peanuts
My family’s favorite is the sour plum powder peanuts because it is a great combination of sweet and savory. Feel free to experiment with all different flavors for an endless variety of spiced peanuts/flavored peanuts!
Have unshelled peanuts? Here is a way to make those!
Dry Roasted Peanuts (Microwave and Oven)
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw peanuts, shelled (~300 grams)
- 1 tbsp boiling water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1.5 tsp seasoning of choice (e.g. garlic powder, sour plum powder, five spice, etc.) more or less to taste *Note 1
Instructions
- To the hot water, add the salt. Mix until the salt has completely dissolved.
- Toss the peanuts, salt water, and your seasoning of choice thoroughly so that the peanuts are well coated. Let the peanuts sit for 5 minutes to let the peanuts absorb the salt water.
- Roast the peanuts using one of the following methods. I recommend using the oven for ease and better flavor.
Oven Roasted Peanuts
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spread the peanuts on a baking sheet in an even layer.
- Bake the peanuts for up to 20-25 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through to promote even browning. Keep an eye on the peanuts to make sure they are not browning too quickly. **Note 2
- Once the peanuts are fragrant and nicely toasted, remove them from the oven.
- Let the peanuts cool for 5-10 minutes to firm up and become slightly crunchier before enjoying.
Microwave Peanuts
- Note that the following microwave cooking times are flexible depending on how powerful your microwave is. The more powerful the microwave, the more you should shorten the cooking times to prevent charring/burning.
- Spread the peanuts on a large microwave safe plate in an even layer.
- For a 1200W microwave: microwave the peanuts for the following times, mixing after each time: 2:30 minutes, 2 minutes, 1:30 minutes, 30 seconds. At the end, the peanuts should be toasted and fragrant. If the peanuts finish toasting before all of the microwave intervals are finished, you can stop earlier. If they are not toasted enough, continue microwaving and tossing in 30-second intervals until the peanuts reach your desired doneness.
- Let the peanuts cool for 5-10 minutes to firm up and become slightly crunchier before enjoying.
Notes
- Seasonings: There are many different seasonings that you can experiment with. You can either go sweet or savory. Some options include:
- Savory: garlic powder, curry powder, five spice
- Sweet: suan mei powder (Chinese sour plum powder), cinnamon sugar, etc.
- Cook time: The amount of time required to roast the peanuts can vary based on what kind of seasoning you use. Seasonings with sugar will promote quicker browning compared to those without.
How to Make Dry Roasted Peanuts
To the hot water, add the salt. Mix until the salt has completely dissolved. Then, thoroughly toss the peanuts, salt water, and your seasoning of choice so that the peanuts are well coated. Let the peanuts sit for 5 minutes to let the peanuts absorb the salt water.
Roast the peanuts using one of the following methods. I recommend using the oven for ease and better flavor.
Baked Peanuts (Recommended)
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spread the peanuts on a baking sheet in an even layer.
Bake the peanuts for up to 20-25 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through to promote even browning. Keep an eye on the peanuts to ensure they are not browning too quickly.
Once the peanuts are fragrant and nicely toasted, remove them from the oven. Let them cool for 5-10 minutes to firm up and become slightly crunchier before enjoying.
Microwave Peanuts
Note that the following microwave cooking times are flexible depending on how powerful your microwave is. The more powerful the microwave, the more you should shorten the cooking times to prevent charring.
Spread the peanuts on a large microwave-safe plate in an even layer.
For a 1200W microwave: microwave the peanuts for the following times, mixing after each time: 2:30 minutes, 2 minutes, 1:30 minutes, 30 seconds. At the end, the peanuts should be toasted and fragrant. If the peanuts finish toasting before all of the microwave intervals are finished, you can stop earlier. If they are not toasted enough, continue microwaving and tossing in 30-second intervals until the peanuts reach your desired doneness.
Let the peanuts cool for 5-10 minutes to firm up and become slightly crunchier before enjoying.
