When my friends and I watch sports we drink beer. And when we drink beer we like to snack. And when we snack we crave spicy, crunchy, and salty.
So what do I do about that craving? Why, I make chile lime peanuts. And, you can, too. Have this simple snack ready for your guests by the time they hit your couch or tailgate.
Chile Lime Peanuts
Makes 2 cups
2 cups raw peanuts (skins are okay)
1 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 Tbsp kosher salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
2 tsp lime juice (bottled okay)
1 – 3 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Stir to combine peanuts, olive oil, salt, and sugar and coat evenly.
Scrape mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet. Roast nuts until fragrant and they begin to darken.
It took me about 25 minutes on a dark-colored baking sheet. Open the oven and stir every 7 or 8 minutes. Keep in mind they will still cook a bit once out of the oven.
When done, transfer the nuts back to a bowl. Add lime juice, hot pepper sauce, and cayenne, stirring to coat evenly.
If you’ve added the maximum amount of hot sauce, I recommend you scrape the nuts back onto the baking sheet so they crisp up and don’t get soggy.
Cool nuts completely before serving. You can make them up to a week ahead, just store them in an airtight container.
