Boiled Peanuts in the Shell
from: Spicy Little Sister

These go great with cold beer on hot summer nights. They are a northern Chinese snack

SERVES 8

• 2 lbs raw peanuts, in the shell
• 3 japanese dried chilies
• 2 star anise
• 4 inches gingerroot, roughly sliced
• 10 szechuan peppercorns (optional)
• 3 teaspoons salt (to taste)
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Put peanuts, spices, salt, and roughly 1/4 cup soy sauce in a pot and cover with water.

Cover pot and bring to boil. Let simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 7-10 minutes (if you don’t, the peanuts floating on top won’t cook through).

When done (peanuts should be a little crunchy yet smushy in your mouth, and taste done), leave peanuts to soak in the brine while they cool.

When cool, drain pot and discard spices; toss peanuts with a little more soy sauce and sesame oil (2 teaspoons each max) and serve cold.