Garlic Peanuts are a delicious snack, salad mix-in or stir-fry addition. The roasted peanuts are toasted in olive oil, salted, and mixed with golden garlic, dried chile de Árbol and a bit of earthy, floral chopped rosemary.
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Traditionally a Filipino street food or snack called Adobong Mani, garlic peanuts are normally fried in oil and dressed with salt and, sometimes, chiles.
My version uses a bit less oil so the roasted peanuts are toasted rather than fried. If you are not a fan of rosemary or would prefer a more traditional taste, feel free to omit it. Same goes for the chile.
I am one of the biggest fans of garlic I know—it's where the name for the blog comes from! My family always jokes that if a recipe calls for one clove of garlic, we will use two, or three, or eight. Here I've used a modest six.
It's what I consider a very healthy garlic to peanut ratio. If you are sensitive, try dialing back the garlic just a bit.
What You'll Need
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- Peanuts roasted, unsalted peanuts are what I prefer. You can try this with salted roasted peanuts, but it is always my preference to control the amount of salt in a dish. If you do use salted peanuts, skip salting the peanuts themselves (but not the garlic).
- Fresh Garlic
- Fresh Rosemary If you only have access to dried rosemary, I would omit it. It will not cook long enough to soften and you'll have little poke-y bits in your peanuts.
- Chile de Árbol Just one dried chile will be plenty for this dish but you can add more. This is optional. You could also try a dash of a hot spice like cayenne.
- Olive Oil Extra virgin olive oil is best!
- Kosher Salt I buy this 3-pack of Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt and it lasts for a very long time. It’s important to keep in mind that kosher salt will affect the flavor of your food differently—it is a different shape than table salt and sea salt, and delivers less “salty” flavor per teaspoon because it is less compact.
How to Prepare
Step One: Slice the garlic - be sure it is not paper thin or the garlic may burn.
Step Two: Lightly toast the garlic over medium-low heat in olive oil and salt.
Step Three: Remove the garlic from the pan when it is just golden, not browned. The image below shows the correct doneness for the garlic on the lefthand side and an overcooked, bitter piece of garlic on the right. Place on a paper towel to drain.
Step Four: Add the peanuts to the remaining oil and toast until warmed through and just golden, 2-4 minutes.
Step Five: Add the rosemary and chopped chile de Árbol and the remaining salt. Stir.
Step Six: Remove the peanut mixture from the heat and place in a bowl. Mix in the garlic and serve.
Variations
Traditional Garlic Peanuts For more traditional garlic peanuts, omit the rosemary and fry the peanuts in a neutral oil like canola oil. Here is a more traditional preparation.
Even More Garlicky Garlic Peanuts Instead of kosher salt, use about half the recommended quantity of garlic salt.
Hatch Chile Garlic Peanuts In place of the chile de Árbol, try some hatch chile flakes. I found these Green & Red Hatch Chile Flakes at Trader Joe's, but if you don't have a local store, try an online shop like this.
How to Store
I find these peanuts don't last for more than a few hours in our home, but if you need to store them, place them in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 3 to 5 days.
If you'd like, warm them in a pan over medium-low heat before serving.
You can freeze the peanuts in a tightly sealed bag for up to 1 month. The texture of the garlic may suffer a bit, but the texture of the peanuts will remain the same.
FAQ
You can store them in the fridge for 3 to 5 days in an airtight container if you don't eat them right away.
Yes. The garlic won't retain its crispness, but the texture of the peanuts will remain the same. Store in a tightly sealed bag for up to 1 month.
Sure. Try cashews, almonds, or any other roasted nut you like. Just keep an eye on them in the pan to avoid burning.
How to Serve
Garlic peanuts are an excellent snack. That is how I eat them most frequently.
They are also amazing mixed into a stir-fry, like this Shrimp Yaki Udon, or in fried rice like this Blackstone Chicken Fried Rice or this delicious, non-traditional Brisket Fried Rice. Just add them near the end of cooking or sprinkle on top when serving.
These are also a fantastic addition to salads. My lunch often consists of a big salad with a bunch of things thrown in - lettuce (or spinach or arugula), some veggies, a nut/seed/legume (like these peanuts), maybe some cheese. Top it with a homemade vinaigrette.
Recipes You'll Love
For more super tasty garlic-forward recipes, try:
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine
Pasta Aglio Olio e Peperoncino
📖 Recipe
Garlic Peanuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted roasted peanuts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 6 cloves garlic medium, sliced
- ¼ teaspoon rosemary chopped fine
- 1 chile de Árbol medium, sliced thin or chopped
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
Instructions
- Slice the garlic - be sure it is not paper thin or the garlic may burn.
- Lightly toast the garlic over medium-low heat in olive oil until it is just golden in color. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain and sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon salt.
- Add the peanuts to the remaining oil and toast until warmed through and just golden, 2-4 minutes.
- Add the rosemary and chopped chile de Árbol and remaining salt. Stir.
- Remove the peanut mixture from the heat and place in a bowl. Mix in the garlic and serve.
Notes
- Feel free to omit the rosemary for a more traditional garlic peanut recipe.
- For an extra garlicky version, try using ⅛ teaspoon garlic salt in place of the recommended ¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
- Be cautious when adding anything peanuts to hot oil as it may spit. Be sure to stir frequently to avoid burning.
- Peanuts can be stored in the fridge for 3-5 days once cooked. If you'd like, you can warm them on the stove when ready to eat.
Jere Cassidy says
My hubby is a big fan of garlic too, he loves garlic fries, so I surprised him with garlic peanuts. And since I grow rosemary, I added that too.
Genevieve says
What a great surprise! Thanks for trying the recipe, Jere.
Kate says
Thanks for the recipe! I added these to a Thai-inspired salad and they added the perfect crunch and flavor!
Genevieve says
That sounds amazing! Thanks Kate.
Emily says
This was the perfect garlicky salty snack that I was craving. It turned out great. Thanks for the recipe!
Genevieve says
So glad you enjoyed it, Emily!
Kris says
Wow, were these tasty! The arbol chile really added a great pop of flavor. Will make again!
Genevieve says
Thanks Kris!
Glenda says
Garlic peanuts were brand new to me. And boy are they delicious! Crave-worthy, really. I am guilty of just snacking on them right out of the bag, but they were also delicious chopped and sprinkled on my avocado toast.
Genevieve says
That's such a creative idea! We'll have to try it. Thanks, Glenda!
Glenda says
Such an easy delicious snack! We loved them. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
Genevieve says
Thanks Glenda!
Miles says
This looks so yummy and easy to make!
Allyssa says
Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make garlic peanuts recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
Genevieve says
Thank you!
Scarlet says
This was my first time making these garlic peanuts but my husband was a big fan so I will try these again.
Genevieve says
Oh yay! Glad he enjoyed them.
Irena says
Super fun flavor combination, not something I've done with peanuts before.
Genevieve says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Irena!
Ryan Allen says
Made these today and they were so delicious. I love the flavor it added to the peanuts.
Genevieve says
Thanks so much Ryan!
Andrea says
I've never tried garlic peanuts. They are so versatile. I really like the idea of adding them to my stir fry or salad.
Genevieve says
Thank you, Andrea!
Gina Abernathy says
My husband is a huge nut fan. These peanuts are perfect for him to take on his tractor for those all day hay baling trips.
Genevieve says
What a great idea! Thank you, Gina.
veenaazmanov says
This is such an amazing idea to flavor some Peanuts. So easy and yet so crunchy and flavorful. Garlic is healthy too.
Genevieve says
Thank you so much!
Sara Welch says
This was such a unique and unexpected snack option! Couldn't put these down; easily, a new favorite!
Genevieve says
Thank you, Sara! So happy you enjoyed them.