Spiced Garlic Peanuts
A wonderfully addictive, crispy snack — golden roasted peanuts tossed with thin, crisp garlic slices and fragrant curry leaves, seasoned with a delicate blend of savoury spices. Crunchy, aromatic, lightly salty, and incredibly moreish. Completely plant-based, free from any animal products, and perfect as a snack, rice topping, or gift treat!
Shared by novi
Time
20 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
easy
🛒 Ingredients
- #Main Ingredients;
- 2 cups raw shelled peanuts — skinless or blanched
- 8–10 cloves garlic — peeled, thinly sliced
- 15–20 fresh curry leaves (daun kari/salam koja) — stems removed
- 3–4 tbsp neutral cooking oil
- #Seasoning & Spices;
- ½ tsp sea salt — adjust to taste.. ½ tsp ground white pepper
- ¼ tsp coriander powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder (optional, for warm colour & aroma)
- ½ tsp coconut sugar or cane sugar — to balance flavour
👩🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prep ingredients: Ensure peanuts are dry. Slice garlic cloves thinly and evenly so they crisp up uniformly. Pick fresh curry leaves, discard stems, wipe clean and dry thoroughly — moisture causes oil splatter.
- 2
Fry garlic gently: Heat oil in a wok or pan over low-medium heat. Add garlic slices and fry slowly, stirring constantly, until pale golden and fragrant — about 2–3 minutes. Do not let them turn dark brown as they will continue darkening after being removed. Lift garlic out and set aside on paper towel.
- 3
Fry curry leaves: In the remaining warm oil, carefully add curry leaves — they will splatter briefly. Fry 30–60 seconds until crisp and bright green. Remove and set aside with garlic.
- 4
Roast peanuts: Add peanuts to the same oil. Keep heat low-medium. Stir and toss continuously for 5–7 minutes until peanuts turn golden, smell nutty, and sound hollow when tapped. Watch closely — they burn quickly once hot!
- 5
Season & combine: Turn heat to lowest setting. Return fried garlic and curry leaves to the pan. Add salt, white pepper, coriander powder, turmeric (if using), and sugar. Toss thoroughly for 1 minute until evenly coated and fragrant.
- 6
Cool & store: Remove from heat immediately. Let cool completely in the pan — peanuts will crisp further as they cool. Transfer to an airtight jar once fully cold. Enjoy as snack or topping!