Verkadalai/ Boiled Peanuts

It took me a long time before I realized that Ground nuts as we call them in India, Peanuts as we call it everywhere, kadalai or Molakottai in Tamil is not just some nut but my comfort nut. I guessed that growing up my Amma used to love peanuts especially the kinds we find in Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Erode areas.The peanut brittle or burfi, peanut balls or regular roasted peanuts were all extra crunchy and tasted very fresh when we buy them there. I guess the oil content in the nuts was subttle and that it did not have the stale smell in them.  It was my Amma's  comfort food especially when she had a lot in her mind to ponder. 

As much as I loved peanuts roasted or boiled  as a kid, I did not think of it as a comfort food growing up. But as an adult especially after I came to the U.S I really started to enjoy peanuts especially, the Gem brand peanut ladoo's from the Indian store a lot. I think Gem brand is made in Coimbatore and every time I popped one into my mouth it reminded me of home and my Amma, hence a emotional and comforting attachment. Today, on Mother's Day I thought it would be appropriate for me to blog about something that is a comfort food for me and my Amma. Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's in the world.

Gadgets:

Pressure Pan

Colander

Ingredients:

Raw Peanuts with Shells- 4 cups ( or as much as you would like to cook)

Water - Enough to cover the peanuts

Salt - add as much to get the water taste  very salty

Preparation:

1. Add the peanuts, water in the pressure pan.

2. Add salt so that your water tastes very salty.

3. Pressure cook on medium high to 4 whistles.

4. When the pressure releases open the pressure cooker and enjoy some verkadali or boiled peanuts.