Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts are a local snack we all grew up eating in Hawaii. Here’s where to get it, how to make it (and eat it) ^_^

Growing up in Hawaii, I always thought that boiled peanuts were a local snack.

…one of those only-in-Hawaii treats (of which there are many).

Little did I know, boiled peanut are also very popular in the South and throughout China.

What Are Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts*

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Hawaiian boiled peanuts are unique in the way they’re seasoned. We use Hawaiian sea salt, lots of sliced ginger, star anise, and black peppercorns. Our boiled peanuts are tender and sweet, so aromatic. They are pretty tasty devoured at room temperature, but so onolicious when hot.

*We touched on the difference between Hawaiian and Hawaii-style here. Our boiled peanuts are technically Hawaii-style, but because people often refer to this snack as Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts (and not Hawaii-style Boiled Peanuts), we’ll use the phrase Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts in this post.

About Hawaiian Sea Salt

Hawaiian Sea Salt is an essential ingredient in any Hawaii kitchen. It’s also one of the key ingredients in this recipe. The grains of Hawaiian sea salt are much larger than typical table salt, and it’s also less salty tasting.

My Hawaiian Sea Salt Pick:

Hawaiian Sea Salt (5lb Bag)

Photo Credit: www.amazon.com

Hawaiian Sea Salt is a key ingredient for many Hawaii dishes including Lau Lau and Beef Stew. Large grains and a not-as-salty flavor is what makes this Hawaiian sea salt distinct.

Kosher salt will work in a pinch, but please try your best to seek out Hawaiian sea salt…it will make a big difference in the final recipe.

When And How Do You Eat Boiled Peanuts

Here in Hawaii, you’ll find boiled peanuts everywhere. We take them to the beach and on hikes in little containers for snack, we bring them for after school treats. They make frequent appearances at potluck parties and family get-togethers. Picture a group of friends sitting around a table, cracking open and snacking on boiled peanuts (hopefully with beer on the side), and catching up on life. It’s good times ^_^

They’re great at all temperatures (chilled from the fridge, room temperature, and hot from the pot), and make a fun, interactive snack. Boiled peanuts have a texture of a just-cooked bean and you can taste hints of all the spices, plus a touch of natural sweetness.

We often eat boiled peanuts at home instead of popcorn (unless it’s Hurricane Popcorn!) when watching movies.

Boiled peanuts from Ono Seafood (Oahu)

Where To Get Boiled Peanuts

You can buy boiled peanuts from many local food shops in Hawaii. I like to get them from Yama’s Fish Market, Fort Ruger Market, Ono Seafood, Foodland, and Alicia’s Market (fyi, all of these places also have great poke).

Or better yet, make your own boiled peanuts!

How To Make Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts

First you need to buy raw peanuts in the shell. They’re typically sold in 1-pound bags. We get them in Honolulu’s Chinatown though you can also order raw peanuts online.

Then you go home and rinse the peanuts. Rinse them well and pick out any derbies or funny looking pieces.

My mom just got an Instant Pot, so we’re making these peanuts in the Instant Pot 🙂 (For instructions on how to make it on the stove, scroll down to the “notes” part of the recipe.)

Put all the rinsed peanuts into the pot. Top it with the Hawaiian sea salt, star anise, ginger, and black peppercorns.

Note: We had red and white Hawaiian sea salt at home, so I used a mix of both. I like to use 1/4 cup Hawaiian sea salt for 1 pound of raw peanuts, but feel free to increase the Hawaiian sea salt to 1/3 cup if you prefer it more salty.

The measurements for the star anise, ginger, and black peppercorns are also flexible. I suggest making it first with my measurements (recipe below), and then increase or decrease any of the spices to your liking.

Add the 10 cups of water to the pot – this should be just enough to cover the peanuts. You’ll notice that the peanuts float to the top, but you want them to be submerged.

The solution? Place something heavier on top to keep the peanuts from floating. We used a heatproof plate and put it upside down, but I’ve seen many different contraptions. (A popular one is placing a metal trivet on top of the peanuts and then topping the trivet with an upside-down glass ramekin.) Anything that can keep the peanuts submerged is fair game. You must keep the plate/contraption in the Instant Pot while cooking.

Using the manual setting, cook the peanuts on high pressure for 70-minutes, followed by a natural pressure release.

Once the peanuts are cool enough to handle, drain the liquid and remove the spices. You are ready to share and snack.

So easy and super onolicious! Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts recipe below ^_^

Yield: 1 Pound Boiled Peanuts

Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts

Name: Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 h 15 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1 pound raw peanuts; 1/4 cup Hawaiian sea salt; 6 whole pieces of star anise; 4 inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon black peppercorns; 10 cups water

Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts are a local treat we all grew up eating in Hawaii. It's easy to eat and even easier to make! Perfect for snacks and sharing.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound raw peanuts
1/4 cup Hawaiian sea salt
6 whole pieces of star anise
4 inch piece of ginger, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
10 cups water

Instructions

Rinse the raw peanuts and pick out any derbies. Place the raw peanuts in a large pot.
Top with the sea salt, star anise, ginger, and black peppercorns. Cover with water.
If cooking with the Instant Pot/pressure cooker, use the manual setting, and cook on high pressure for 70 minutes.

Notes

If you are cooking on the stove (as opposed to Instant Pot/pressure cooker), soak the raw peanuts in water overnight before cooking. Add the sea salt, star anise, ginger, and black peppercorns to the pot the next morning. Bring to a boil and then simmer over low heat for 1-2 hours. Stir every 15 minutes and check for doneness after 1-hour.

Comments

Jonathan R Kauhako says

October 15, 2019 at 1:12 am

Not to sound rude because that sounds really good right now but there nothing Hawaiian about boiled peanuts .

- Kathy Chan says
  
  October 16, 2019 at 12:03 pm
  
  Hi Jonathan,
  
  Thanks for your comment. I completely get what you mean, which is why I included this paragraph in the post:
  
  *We touched on the difference between Hawaiian and Hawaii-style here. Our boiled peanuts are technically Hawaii-style, but because people often refer to this snack as Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts (and not Hawaii-style Boiled Peanuts), we’ll use the phrase Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts in this post.
  
  Many of non-local friends on the mainland love this snack and remember it as Hawaiian boiled peanuts, so wanted to make this post for them 🙂
  
  – Kathy
  
- Stacey says
  
  April 28, 2020 at 2:29 am
  
  This doesn’t have pineapple in it, but local people that grew up in Hawaii are very familiar with this recipe and taste. Just because Hawaiian is in a recipe name, contrary to what most mainlanders think… does not include pineapple or umbrellas. 🙂
  
DMK says

November 24, 2019 at 8:23 am

Love the history! I always thought boiled peanuts were a local snack until I saw an article about southern boiled peanuts then I went looking for an article about boiled peanuts in Hawaii.

- Kathy Chan says
  
  November 25, 2019 at 2:59 am
  
  Thanks, DMK! I thought the same about boiling peanuts being a local snack for the longest time as well 🙂
  – Kathy
  
Barbie says

April 5, 2020 at 2:46 am

Aloha Kathy, And for those of us with
no instapot how long do you suggest boiling? constant boil or what?

- Kathy Chan says
  
  April 7, 2020 at 7:50 am
  
  Aloha Barbie! I recommend:
  1) Soaking the peanuts overnight (put a plate on top to keep them from floating up)
  2) Rinsing the peanuts in a few changes of water (you want the water to run clean).
  3) Boiling the peanuts in the fresh water for 30-60 minutes (start testing/tasting a peanut after 30 minutes to see if it’s ready). I’d keep it at light boil (medium-low heat).
  Hope this is helpful 🙂
  – Kathy