Roasted Peanut or Groundnut as it is called in Nigeria is a very popular snack.
I remember hawkers carrying roasted groundnut, Donkwa and pop-corn in glass cases on their heads, they would use a fork to tap the case and make a rhythmic noise to attract people in the area to come and buy.
Roasted groundnut is also a popular accompaniment to roasted plantain (Boli or Bole as it is called) , garri (cassava flakes) soaked in water e.t.c.
It is quite easy to make. This is how I make mine. But before then here are a few other groundnut recipes you can try
Garri, or Cooking Salt, or Very fine Sand to roast.
Procedure – Soak groundnuts in hot water and salt for about 30 mins, then drain in a seive, allow to strain completely.
– Fine sand is the most popular thing used locally to roast groundnut. Sand retains heat and also the nuts roast quicker and finer. But I don’t care for that method at all. My neighbour when I was growing up used salt to make her’s, but I ain’t got that much salt to waste. So i used garri.
– Heat an empty pan on the fire and add garri/salt/sand, allow the garri to heat up slighty then add the peanuts.
– Use a wooden spoon to keep stirring. Stir consistently so as allow for even cooking and to avoid burning. The peanut would start to make a crackling sound like pop corn. Keep stirring till the sounds stop and the skin looks like it is shrivelled. You can pick one nut and peel and taste, if it still tastes raw keep stirring. Keep checking to see progress if you peel the skin of about 3 picked randomly and it comes out golden brown, it is time to take it off the heat.
– Allow it to cool in garri/salt/sand before you pour it in large perforated seive, seive to separate garri/sand/salt from the peanuts.
– If the groundnut is almost burnt or over roasted quickly take out of the garri/sand/salt as It would keep cooking even after it has been taken off the heat.
– Spread out on a tray to cool completely
Roasted unpeeled groundnut.
– Peel groundnuts by rubbing between your fingers and palms and blow out the chaff.
Store in an airtight container.
Peeled groundnuts is popularly sold in glass bottles like this on the streets of Lagos.
I grew up at Dutse, and we referred to them as ash peanuts. Are these the same. Is this the same way they are roasted? I thought that they were roasted under the sand with the hot coals on top?
Must it be soak in hot water with salt? I want to know bcos i’ve a frnd dat jst sprinkle ordinary water, add salt, stirred and sun dry it b4 he roasted it.
Hello,
would you by any chance know how to make the sweet nuts sold on the street in Lagos? They are coated with sugar but i don’t know what the other ingredients are if any or how they make them. Thank you
Great post by the way:)
Nice to get educated but I want to be clear on something. When you say garri/salt/sand, do you mean a combination of all three or using just one as a choice? Thank you
Thank you,am just thinking of the cost effect of garri for commercial production, also how do I aavoid sand being found in my product, after processing it. God bless you.
Sugar will definitely give a different taste. You’d have sweetened and not salted peanuts. And there is a possibility that the sugar will caramelize and burn when “frying”
I’m in the process of making my first home made roasted groundnuts! I salted it properly and it tastes really nice just still waiting to dry. I can only imagine what the fried one will taste like. I’ve been wasting money buying what I could do for myself! Thanks again my own Autie OmoLabake
Good day sister, thank for the useful tips.
I tried make roasted groundnut before now. I cooked it before frying and not soaked in hot water.
I finally discussed the it was not well roasted after many attempts.
Please what should I do.
I used small oven to roast.
I will appreciate if you can guide me via ayotunde.akinwale@yahoo.com.
Thanks God bless
Ounje Aladun 
Dis is lovely tnx so much
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My own groundnut was hard wen chewing wasn’t like d one sold in market, though I used sand
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Possibly that is a factor of soaking.
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Never knew it was possible with garri o, well done.
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Thank you Edesiri
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Reading this 5 years later beacuse my mind randomly thought about why they used sand to roast groundnut
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Thanks,
I tried it, it didn’t come out well it was soft
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Sorry about that Iseoluwa. Can you walk me through the steps you too so we can find out where you made a mistake.
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thanks for the write up. I’m off to give it a try. Nice piece
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thanks for sharing
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Thanks will try that this week.
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I have not heard about using garri before
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I tried it and it worked
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Thanks for trying!
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I’m enjoying mine now. I did it with fine sand and its nice,thanks.
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Thanks so much, can I use the same method for my Almond nuts?
Elizabeth.
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what is garri can you explaine ?
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Garri is roasted cassava grits, it’s a meal popular in Nigeria, also called Cassava flakes.
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Thanks,soo mch u really hep a lot…I got to impress my gf&hostel mate…
Mehn…
Am feeling my self thanks.
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You are welcome
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Thanks for the write up, I never knew it could be done with garri, will give it a trial.
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Thanks alot i will try d hot water, should it be very hot? Thanks again
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Hot enough to soften the nuts, yes.
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Hi, thanks 4 d post. Just tried n it’s made sense. Just continual practise make perfect. Thanks
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I grew up at Dutse, and we referred to them as ash peanuts. Are these the same. Is this the same way they are roasted? I thought that they were roasted under the sand with the hot coals on top?
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Hey Teichroew.
I’m hearing of ash peanuts for the first time. I’d do a bit more research and confirm if they are the same.
Thanks for the information
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Thanks For Sharing This With Us. Will Surely Try This Out Soon. But My Question Is This, Will The Gari Be Re Usable?
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pls, how can I get the fine sand
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I’m sure you’d find some on your street.
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Must it be soak in hot water with salt? I want to know bcos i’ve a frnd dat jst sprinkle ordinary water, add salt, stirred and sun dry it b4 he roasted it.
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I have never tried your friend’s method so I can only speak of what I have tried.
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Alrite! Thanks so much.
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How do fry without the nuts breaking or separating
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Hello,
would you by any chance know how to make the sweet nuts sold on the street in Lagos? They are coated with sugar but i don’t know what the other ingredients are if any or how they make them. Thank you
Great post by the way:)
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Would do a post soon
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Pls,can i re-use the already used garri?
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Highly unlikely, It would like have burned too much
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Thanks for this online training. I have been looking for the opportunity to know how to roast groundnut personally. Now I find it.
I shall give it a try and report back to you.
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Nice to get educated but I want to be clear on something. When you say garri/salt/sand, do you mean a combination of all three or using just one as a choice? Thank you
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Using one as a choice
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Thanks for the info. Off for a trial right away.
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You are welcome
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Pls After Soakin In Hot Salted Water For 30mins, Wil It B Sun Dry B4 Frying?
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Please After Soaking In Hot Salted Water, Can It Be Sun Dried Before Frying With Sand?
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Just leave it to strain. You don’t have to sun dry
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Thanks for the lecture… Am on d practice now..
Will give a feed back.
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Thank you soo much you are just too good. please be blessed l will try that here in Zimbabwe .l will give you a feed back.
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Thank you for teaching us this delicacy snack . l will try it and tell you how it goes.
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i tried it and it was awesom with gari.tnk dear
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Thanks for the kind feedback
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WAHOOOOOOO !GARRI I WILL TRY IT BUT CAN I USE IT FOR LARGE QUANTITY?
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If you find it cost effective, then you can.
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Thanks for the teaching
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Wont d garri get burnt after using it d first time
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Thank you,am just thinking of the cost effect of garri for commercial production, also how do I aavoid sand being found in my product, after processing it. God bless you.
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After soaking the groundnut in hot water, is it possible to strain the water and fry it that same day. thanks. wW
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I love your concept Dear, frying with garri, but for someone selling
that would be more cost.
Sand fry saves cost but sometimes gets inside the NUTS.
Garri would be neater.
For the part where you put SALT IN WARM WATER plus the peanuts
what if you put SUGAR INSTEAD.
Will it work?
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Sugar will definitely give a different taste. You’d have sweetened and not salted peanuts. And there is a possibility that the sugar will caramelize and burn when “frying”
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Thanks, I’ll try it and see how easy it is
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Please do and feed me back. Thank you
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Good evening Ounje, well done, if I have to try a derica of groundnuts what’s the quantity of salt to soak in hot water (quantity of water). Thank you
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Thank you for following my blog!
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I’m in the process of making my first home made roasted groundnuts! I salted it properly and it tastes really nice just still waiting to dry. I can only imagine what the fried one will taste like. I’ve been wasting money buying what I could do for myself! Thanks again my own Autie OmoLabake
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You are welcome sir!
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Good day sister, thank for the useful tips.
I tried make roasted groundnut before now. I cooked it before frying and not soaked in hot water.
I finally discussed the it was not well roasted after many attempts.
Please what should I do.
I used small oven to roast.
I will appreciate if you can guide me via ayotunde.akinwale@yahoo.com.
Thanks God bless
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After removing hot water, Won’t you sun to dry it before frying?
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Even if I peel them one by one. They get broken bcos the back is hard wen peeling. Wat cause the hardness, y can’t I peel it easily
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How long do you soak them for?
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