Some Unusual Gourmet Recipes for Peanuts

Peanut Soup, Sauce, Cocktail Mix and Frosting Add Surprise to Meals

© Marie Brannon

Oct 10, 2009

Some of the following recipes sound downright odd, but if you have an open mind, you can cook up some delightful dishes. Your guests will be talking about your culinary skills long after the meal is over and maybe for years to come.

Basic Homemade Gourmet Peanut Butter

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shelled and skinned raw peanuts
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Toss the peanuts and peanut oil together in a shallow baking dish
2. Roast the peanuts for twenty-five minutes at 300F, shaking the pan once or twice to spread and toss them
3. After they are cool, blend the cooked peanuts in a food processor with the salt (use a steel blade)

Makes about one cup of peanut butter

Creamed Peanut Soup

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup minced onion
• 1/3 cup minced celery
• 2 tablespoons minced carrots
• ½ stick butter
• 1 cup peanut butter (see recipe above)
• 4 cups hot chicken stock or broth
• ½ cup sour cream
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped roasted peanuts

Directions:

1. In a skillet, sweat (or butter-steam) the onions, celery and carrots until they are soft, about ten minutes
2. Remove the skillet from heat, stir in the peanut butter and chicken stock
3. Return the mixture to the stove and simmer for fifteen minutes
4. Stir in the sour cream, salt and pepper
5. Ladle the soup into heated bowls and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts. Makes about four servings.

Peanut Dipping Sauce for Shrimp or Crudités

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup peanut butter (see recipe above)
• ¼ cup tomato puree
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

Directions:

1. In a bowl combine the peanut butter, tomato puree, lemon juice, salt and cayenne pepper
2. Add the chicken broth and yogurt a little at a time until desired consistency is reached for the sauce.

Makes about ½ cup dipping sauce.

Peanut and Shallot Cocktail Mix

Ingredients:

• 2 cups shelled and skinned raw peanuts
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• Peanut oil to equal ½” in your skillet
• ¾ cup freeze-dried shallots

Directions:

1. In a bowl toss the peanuts with the salt and garlic
2. In a skillet fry the peanuts in ½” peanut oil, stirring, until they are golden brown
3. Remove peanuts from oil and put on paper towel to soak up excess oil
4. Fry the shallots in the remaining oil until they are golden brown and crisp (this should take less than a minute)
5. In a serving bowl toss the shallots and peanuts and let the mixture cool.

Serve with cocktails. Serves about six.

Peanut Frosting

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter
• ½ cup peanut butter (see recipe above)
• 2 ¼ cups sifted confectioners sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Dark rum
• Heavy cream

Directions:

1. In a food processor use the steel blade to blend the butter and peanut butter
2. Add the confectioner sugar a little at a time as you spin the machine
3. When the mixture is almost smooth enough, add the vanilla
4. Thin the frosting as desired with the rum and the cream

Makes about two cups of frosting.

Buying roasted peanuts for a baseball game or other event is one thing, but being able to serve your family and guests these unusual dishes is quite another. Experiment with these recipes and get ready for the compliments to start.

Gourmet Cooks Use Peanuts

Peanut Soup for a Chilly Evening

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