Sweeten Boiled Peanuts with Honey?

by Devin S
(Atlanta, Georgia, USA)

I want to make some sweet flavored boiled peanuts but not overpoweringly sweet. Any suggestions as to what I could use? I'm open minded, and would try anything.

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Jan 20, 2013

Sweetening boiled peanuts
by: Bret

Devin,
Yes, you can sweeten boiled peanuts with honey, sugar, brown sugar, rock sugar, or molasses.

Sugar enhances the flavor of naturally occurring vanillin in boiled peanuts. Both the kernels and the hulls of boiled peanuts contain vanillin. Vanillin has a low flavor threshold, thus it is an important ingredient contributing to the taste of boiled peanuts.

I've used combinations of salt and sugar or molasses when boiling peanuts. I haven't boiled peanuts with just sugar, and have not tried honey. I imagine that honey would add a more complex flavor to boiled peanuts.

Adding sugar to boiling peanuts is common in Asia and India. In Asia they call them braised peanuts. Braised peanuts may include sugar, soy sauce, star anise, garlic, orange peel, Chinese 5 spice, cinnamon and other spices. Here is a simplified braised peanut recipe from my friend Pearlynn, in Singapore.

In India peanuts are often boiled with Jaggery. Jaggery is a concentrated, unrefined sweetener made from cane juice, date juice, sap of coconut, or sago palm juice.

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