Indian Spiced Fried Peanuts with Curry Leaves

Step 1

Heat oil in a deep saucepan or kadai until hot.

Step 2

Drop ½ cup full of peanuts in the hot oil; you will see a lot of bubbles; reduce heat to medium high.

Step 3

As soon as the bubbles start to subside, indicating the peanuts are fried, remove and drain in a colander or over absorbent paper towels.

Step 4

Once again, increase heat to high, drop another ½ cup full and continue frying the same way.

Step 5

As soon as the peanuts are out of the pan and are drained of excess oil, sprinkle salt, red chili powder and hing over them while still hot, toss well and keep aside to cool.

Step 6

You can either spice up the fried peanuts batch wise or altogether in the end; but make sure the peanuts are still warm or hot when you add the salt and spices.

Step 7

After the last batch of peanuts is fried, drop curry leaves into the hot oil. As soon as you drop them, the oil will splutter, so immediately, place a cover over the hot oil so as not to splatter hot oil all over!

Step 8

Curry leaves get fried and crisp fast, so immediately remove them and drain well.

Step 9

Mix with the fried and spiced peanuts, toss and serve when cool.

Step 10

Enjoy spicy, crispy peanuts with a cup of chai/coffee, as a bar snack, as an appetizer at any party etc.