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Roasted Groundnuts

Also known as Roasted Groundnuts (Isin — Nigerian Street Peanuts)

Roasted Groundnuts — sold in paper cones by vendors at every Lagos bus stop, market and school gate — are Nigeria's most universally snacked food. The groundnut has been cultivated in Northern Nigeria for centuries and has spread to become a pan-Nigerian daily snack.

Roasted Groundnuts, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 big cups of raw groundnuts (peanuts), in their shells or shelled
  • A big handful of clean dry sand — for the traditional sand-roasting method
  • OR a large dry frying pan — for the home dry-roasting method
  • Salt to taste — optional

Method

  1. 01

    Method 1 — Traditional Sand Roasting. Place clean dry sand in a deep pan. Heat over medium-high flame until very hot. Add raw groundnuts. Stir continuously for 8 to 12 minutes until shells crack, peanuts inside are golden-brown and aroma is intensely nutty. Pour through a large colander — sand falls through, nuts remain.

  2. 02

    Method 2 — Home Dry Pan Roasting. Place raw groundnuts in a large dry frying pan over medium heat. Stir constantly for 10 to 15 minutes until shells crack and kitchen fills with roasted peanut aroma. Remove from heat immediately.

  3. 03

    Salting. While still hot, sprinkle lightly with fine salt if desired. Toss to coat.

  4. 04

    Serving. Cool 5 minutes. Serve in paper cones or a bowl. Shell as you eat.

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