ThaiCarmalizedPeanuts-Title
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Do you like having snacks on trips? Photojournalists like Piyamary do too! Here is a favorite snack that you can try from her country, Thailand.

ThaiPeanuts-chop-tiny

Thai Caramelized Peanuts

Yields1 Serving

Adult help needed.

 1 ½ cups raw peanuts with skin on
 ¾ cup sugar
 ¼ cup water, or just enough to cover the nuts
 1 ½ tsp butter
 1 tsp cocoa powder
 ¼ tsp salt
 3 tbsp white sesame seeds, roasted
Notes
 To make this recipe even closer to how it is in Thailand, use 2 tsp. Ovaltine or Milo powder instead of the cocoa powder.
 If your sesame seeds are not roasted, heat them in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly to avoid burning, until just golden.
1

Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper for the nuts to cool on when they are done.

2

Combine sugar, water, butter and cocoa powder in a wok or 8- to 10-inch nonstick pot. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar is dissolved.

3

Add the peanuts as soon as the sugar dissolves and bring the mixture to a simmer, turning down the heat to medium low.

4

Keep simmering at this temperature, stirring occasionally, until the syrup begins thickening, about 10 minutes.

5

The next four steps require special attention: When the mixture thickens, begin stirring constantly. The sugar should crystalize and will look like wet sand before becoming crumbly and dry. The now-powdery sugar mixture should evenly coat the peanuts as you stir.

6

Add in salt, continuing to stir over medium-low heat for a few more minutes.

7

Waiting only until all the peanuts have some sticky spots (not until the sugar liquefies completely), add the roasted sesame seeds and evenly coat the peanuts.

8

As soon as the peanuts are covered enough with sesame seeds, turn off the heat and spread the caramelized nuts on your baking sheet to cool.

9

Let nuts cool completely. Serve or store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Ingredients

 1 ½ cups raw peanuts with skin on
 ¾ cup sugar
 ¼ cup water, or just enough to cover the nuts
 1 ½ tsp butter
 1 tsp cocoa powder
 ¼ tsp salt
 3 tbsp white sesame seeds, roasted
Notes
 To make this recipe even closer to how it is in Thailand, use 2 tsp. Ovaltine or Milo powder instead of the cocoa powder.
 If your sesame seeds are not roasted, heat them in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring constantly to avoid burning, until just golden.

Directions

1

Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment or wax paper for the nuts to cool on when they are done.

2

Combine sugar, water, butter and cocoa powder in a wok or 8- to 10-inch nonstick pot. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring just until the sugar is dissolved.

3

Add the peanuts as soon as the sugar dissolves and bring the mixture to a simmer, turning down the heat to medium low.

4

Keep simmering at this temperature, stirring occasionally, until the syrup begins thickening, about 10 minutes.

5

The next four steps require special attention: When the mixture thickens, begin stirring constantly. The sugar should crystalize and will look like wet sand before becoming crumbly and dry. The now-powdery sugar mixture should evenly coat the peanuts as you stir.

6

Add in salt, continuing to stir over medium-low heat for a few more minutes.

7

Waiting only until all the peanuts have some sticky spots (not until the sugar liquefies completely), add the roasted sesame seeds and evenly coat the peanuts.

8

As soon as the peanuts are covered enough with sesame seeds, turn off the heat and spread the caramelized nuts on your baking sheet to cool.

9

Let nuts cool completely. Serve or store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

Thai Caramelized Peanuts