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Cacahuates enchilados

Chile-garlic peanuts

Cacahuates enchilados: Mexican chile-garlic fried peanuts with lime, a cantina and bus-station botana

Sold in twists of paper at bus stations and set out free with a drink in Mexican cantinas, these peanuts are fried slowly with whole garlic and dried chile de árbol, then tossed with chile powder, salt and lime. They're crunchy, salty, sour and hot all at once. Make a batch for a party or keep a jar for snacking. They contain peanuts, so warn guests with nut allergies. Chef's tip: let them cool fully on a tray before tasting; they only turn properly crunchy once cold.
Total time
20 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
6
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Ingredients

Serves6

For the peanuts

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Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a wide frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add the 6 cloves garlic and cook for 3 minutes until it starts to colour.

    3 min
  2. Step 2: Add the 10 ½ oz raw skinless peanuts and stir often for 8–10 minutes until golden and smelling toasty. High heat is the usual mistake: the outsides scorch before the centres cook.

    10 min
  3. Step 3: Add the 8 dried chiles de árbol for the last minute only, until they darken slightly; they burn quickly.

    1 min
  4. Step 4: Take the pan off the heat. Sprinkle with the 1 ½ tsp ground chile de árbol or cayenne and 1 tsp fine salt, add the 1 lime juice and toss until the peanuts look dry again.

    1 min
  5. Step 5: Spread on a tray and cool for 15 minutes. Store in a jar for up to a week.

    1 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
300 kcal
Protein
13 g
Carbs
9 g
Fat
25 g
Fibre
4 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does cacahuates enchilados take?
About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
Is it very spicy?
It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
What can I use instead of garlic?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
What can I use instead of lime?
Lemon, same amount.

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