Contents
Sugared peanuts are a natural delicacy that successfully replaces other types of snacks and does not require large expenditures both in terms of time and material resources. It can be easily and quickly prepared at home.
Which peanut is better to choose for cooking
The freshness of the product significantly affects its taste, so when choosing peanuts, you need to pay attention to its appearance, storage method and its duration. Stale or spoiled beans do not keep for a long time, and on top of that, they can harm your health.
It is worth paying attention to several aspects.
- Outwardly, peanut beans should be clean and without damage: dark spots, chips. It is advisable to take peanuts by weight so that you can evaluate the appearance of the product. It is better to buy nuts without a shell, but with a skin.
- The kernels should be dry, not smell damp or leave a feeling of moisture on the hands. Such a product may be spoiled by mold and will not be stored for a long time.
- The aroma of fresh peanuts is bright, tart and pronounced. If notes of dampness or acid are mixed in, the nut is old, possibly damaged by mold.
- Peanuts with small kernels – Indian – have a pronounced taste, while varieties with large kernels are almost tasteless with a slight smell.
The best peanuts are always sold in markets or specialty stores. Supermarkets offer nuts in opaque packaging with various additives, it is cleaned and pre-treated, in such conditions it is impossible to determine the freshness of peanuts, evaluate its color and smell. This increases the risk of buying low-quality goods with low taste.
How to make sugar-coated peanuts at home
Such a delicacy as sugar-coated peanuts can be purchased ready-made in the store, but it is much more useful to cook it at home. All you need is three ingredients: peanuts, sugar and water. Relatively little time and you can be sure of the benefits and quality of the finished product. Sweet beans can be prepared in two ways: glazed and burnt sugar.
Peanuts in sugar glaze
To prepare dessert you will need:
- peanuts – 200 g;
- water – 1 / 3 glass;
- sugar – 0,5 cups.
Cooking time: 15 minutes.
- Unpeeled peanuts must be fried in a pan for 3-5 minutes over low heat. The beans should warm up and begin to emit a pleasant tart flavor.
- The next step is to pour water into a glass of sugar, mix a little to get a sweet gruel. It must be poured into a pan with peanuts, stirring constantly.
- Stir constantly to coat each bean evenly with frosting. It is important not to miss the moment when the mass begins to thicken, you need to pay attention and get ready to turn off the fire. When there is practically no moisture left, the peanuts are ready.
- Transfer the dessert from the pan to a separate plate, allow to cool and dry. This is how it looks when finished.
Such an appetizer is suitable for tea, coffee or as an independent dessert. It should be used with caution in people with peanut allergies or diabetes.
Peanuts in roasted sugar
The recipe for peanuts in burnt sugar is practically the same as the previous one. This method gives the dessert a mild caramel flavor, the intensity of which can be adjusted by the cooking time. For him you will need:
- peanuts – 2 cups;
- sugar – 200 g;
- water – 100 g.
Cooking time: 15 minutes.
Cooking process:
- Peanuts, without peeling, must be roasted over low heat. It should warm up and begin to emit a strong smell. This step will take 4-5 minutes. Oil can not be added, you just need to ignite the beans.
- In a separate container, mix sugar with water. It is desirable that the crystals begin to gradually dissolve. Pour this mixture into a clean hot pan and heat for 5 minutes. Sugar should be light brown in color.
- As soon as the sugar acquires the desired shade, you can immediately pour peanuts into it, stirring constantly. It is important to monitor the consistency of caramel, and when all the beans are covered with sugar crystals, you can turn off the fire. You need to immediately transfer the beans to another container so that they cool down and the caramel grabs.
- The nuts will be soft brown, after cooling they can be served with tea.
You can choose the color and taste of caramel yourself: fry it more or less. It is important not to burn the sugar, otherwise it will acquire an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.
Calorie content of peanuts in sugar
Sugar itself is a high-calorie product, and when mixed with peanuts, the calorie content increases. In 100 g of goodies – 490 kcal. This amount is approximately equal to a glass of nuts. Carbohydrates in such a serving – 43 g – this is about 30% of the daily requirement. There are also a lot of fats here – 37,8 g, which is equivalent to 50% of the daily intake.
People on a diet should not consume this sweet or limit its consumption to a small handful per day. The product has a high glycemic index, and these are fast carbohydrates that are easily digested and turn into body fat without having time to be used up. Children and people with diabetes should also not abuse the treat.
Terms and conditions of storage
Caramel tends to melt, so it’s best not to store peanuts in an area of open sunlight or in a hot room. Low humidity will protect the beans from mold. The best place to store the product is the refrigerator. It can stay there for up to several months.
Other cooking options
The taste of sweetness can be diversified and made it a full-fledged dessert. There are several additives with which many recipes have been invented.
- Med. A little honey can be added to the water when making caramel or directly to the pan. This will give the nuts a special flavor. Honey cannot be heat treated for a long time, so it is better to add it at the end.
- Lemon acid. You can also make sour caramels at the stage of roasting sugar: add it to a mixture of sugar and water, mix thoroughly. Half a teaspoon is enough, otherwise the acid will kill the whole taste.
- Fruit juices. They can be added instead of water or slightly diluted so that the taste does not turn out cloying. It is better to choose apple or cherry juice without pulp. Make the proportion with water 1/1 (a quarter cup of water and the same amount of juice).
The fantasy in these recipes is unlimited by the listed additives, it all depends on personal preferences.
Conclusion
Sugared peanuts are a great substitute for store-bought desserts. Giving preference to homemade sweets, you can maintain your health, be confident in their composition and change the recipe to your taste. Homemade delicacy does not require a lot of effort, money and high food costs.
