Roasting Groundnuts: Pan-Fried Perfection

Roasting groundnuts in a pan is a simple and quick process. All you need is a frying pan or wok, a wooden or metal spatula, and some shelled raw groundnuts.

First, heat your pan or wok. Then, add the groundnuts and reduce the flame to low. Keep stirring continuously to ensure the groundnuts are roasted evenly on all sides—this should take around 7-8 minutes, depending on the size of the nuts. You'll know they're done when they start to smell roasted and make a crackling sound.

Once roasted, remove the groundnuts from the heat and let them cool. You can then enjoy them as a snack or use them in various dishes such as salads or peanut chutney.

Use a frying pan or wok for roasting

Roasting groundnuts in a frying pan or wok is a quick and easy way to prepare this tasty snack. Here is a step-by-step guide:

What You Need

First, gather your equipment and ingredients. You will need a frying pan or wok, a wooden or metal spatula, and a cup of shelled raw peanuts.

Roasting the Groundnuts

Start by heating your pan or wok over a medium flame. Once the pan is hot, add the peanuts and reduce the flame to low. Keep the peanuts moving by stirring continuously. This ensures even roasting and prevents burning.

Roast the peanuts for about 7-8 minutes, depending on their size. You'll know they're done when you hear them crackling and smell that delicious roasted aroma.

Testing for Doneness

Take a peanut out of the pan and place it on the kitchen counter to cool slightly. Then, rub it between your thumb and forefinger. If the skin comes off easily, your groundnuts are ready! You can also taste one to check if they're done to your liking.

Final Steps

Once the groundnuts are roasted to your liking, remove them from the heat. Remember, they will continue to cook as they cool. Store them as they are, or remove their skins—it's up to you! You can also powder the roasted peanuts if you prefer. Enjoy!

Heat the pan and add peanuts

Now that you've gathered your peanuts and chosen whether to roast them in or out of their shells, it's time to get cooking!

First, heat your pan or wok (kadhai) on a medium flame. You can use a frying pan or a karhai, kadhai (wok) for roasting peanuts.

Once your pan is hot, add the peanuts and reduce the flame to low. You can add a teaspoon of salt at this stage if you wish.

Keep stirring the peanuts continuously to ensure they roast evenly. If you don't keep stirring, they may cook more on one side or even get burnt. Remember to keep the flame low and stir for about 7-8 minutes. The actual time needed will depend on the size of the peanuts.

You'll know the peanuts are almost done when you start to hear them crackling and smell that delicious roasted aroma—usually after about 4-5 minutes.

To check if the peanuts are done, take one or two out of the pan and put them on the kitchen counter to cool. Then, rub a peanut between your thumb and forefinger. If the skin comes off easily, the peanut is ready! You can also taste the peanut after it has cooled a little to check if it's done to your liking.

If the peanuts are not yet roasted to your liking, continue stirring and roasting for another minute and then check again. Once done, remove them from the heat. Remember, the peanuts will continue to cook as they cool, so take care not to overcook them.

Reduce the flame to low

Once your pan is heated, add the peanuts and reduce the flame to low. Keep stirring the peanuts continuously to ensure they roast evenly. If you don't keep stirring, the peanuts may cook more on one side or even burn. Remember to stir on a low flame for about 7-8 minutes. The actual time will depend on the size of the peanuts.

Listen and smell for the roast

The peanuts will make a crackling sound when they are roasted. You will also start to smell the wonderful aroma of roasting peanuts after about 4-5 minutes.

Test if the peanuts are done

When you get that delicious roasted peanut smell, take out one or two peanuts from the pan and put them on the kitchen counter to cool. Rub the peanut between your thumb and forefinger. If the peanut skin comes off easily, the peanut is done. You can also test by tasting the peanut after letting it cool a little. If the peanuts are not roasted to your liking, continue stirring and roasting, checking again after a minute.

Remove from the flame

Once the peanuts are done, remove them from the flame. Remember that the peanuts will continue to cook while they are cooling, so take care not to overcook them while on the stove.

Stir continuously to roast evenly

Stirring continuously is an important step in the process of roasting groundnuts. It ensures that the peanuts are roasted evenly on all sides and prevents them from burning. When roasting groundnuts, it is best to use a low flame and keep stirring the peanuts for about 7-8 minutes. The actual roasting time may vary depending on the size of the peanuts.

While stirring, pay attention to the sound and smell of the peanuts. After about 4-5 minutes, you will start to smell the wonderful aroma of roasting peanuts. At this point, you can take out a peanut or two and rub it between your thumb and forefinger to check if the skin comes off easily. This is an indication that the peanuts are done. You can also taste one after it has cooled slightly to check if it is roasted to your liking.

Remember to remove the peanuts from the heat once they are done to your preference. They will continue to cook and can easily get overcooked while cooling down.

Check if the peanuts are done

Roasting peanuts is a simple process, but it's important to keep an eye on them to ensure they don't burn. Here are some ways to check if your peanuts are roasted to perfection:

Timing

The roasting time for peanuts depends on whether they are shelled or unshelled. As a general rule, shelled peanuts will take around 15 to 20 minutes, while unshelled peanuts will take a little longer, around 20 to 25 minutes. However, it's important to note that roasting times may vary depending on your oven and the desired level of doneness. Therefore, it's a good idea to start checking your peanuts a few minutes early to ensure they don't burn.

Colour

Whether your peanuts are shelled or unshelled, you'll know they're done when they turn a light golden brown colour. For shelled peanuts, keep an eye on the skins—you'll know they're ready when the skins become loose and the peanuts underneath are golden. For unshelled peanuts, wait until the shells turn a light golden brown.

Aroma

Another way to tell if your peanuts are done is by their aroma. When peanuts are roasted, they release a nutty and mouth-watering fragrance. If you start smelling that delicious peanutty aroma, it's a good indication that your peanuts are ready.

Skin Test (for shelled peanuts)

If you're roasting shelled peanuts, you can try the skin test. Carefully crack open a peanut with tongs and check if the skin comes off easily. If it does, it's a sign that the peanuts are done. Just be sure to let the steam escape before handling the peanut, as they will be very hot.

Cooling

Once you think your peanuts are done, remove them from the heat and let them cool down. Peanuts will continue to cook slightly as they cool, so it's important to take them out of the oven or pan just before they reach your desired level of doneness. After a few minutes of cooling, taste a peanut to see if it's done to your liking. If not, you can always put them back in the oven or pan for a few more minutes.

Frequently asked questions