Masala Peanuts
Peanuts toasted with turmeric, chile, and lime — the chai-time snack that empties itself.
Discover smart recipes
Sign up on Homecooked to cook this recipe as the chef intended, with parallel steps and built-in timers guiding you along the way. Stock your pantry to discover more recipes you can cook with the ingredients you have at home.
Join HomecookedIngredients
- 250 g Peanuts
- 1 tbsp Neutral oil
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Red chili powder (optional)
- ½ tsp Chaat masala (optional)
- ½ Lime (optional)
Method
- Measure the turmeric, the red chili powder, and the salt together into a small bowl so the spices are ready to throw in.
- Toast the peanuts in the oil in a wide skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until they smell roasty and darken a shade, about 5 minutes.
- Pull the skillet off the heat and toss the peanuts with the spice mix for 30 seconds so the spices bloom without burning.
- Spread the peanuts on a plate and let them cool for 5 minutes so they crisp up.
- Hit the peanuts with a squeeze of lime juice and a dusting of chaat masala and serve them in a heap.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated from ingredients; varies with exact portions and brands.
About Masala Peanuts
Masala peanuts are the quintessential Indian tea-time snack, the kind of thing that appears alongside a cup of chai and disappears before the cup is empty. At their simplest they are peanuts toasted with turmeric and red chili powder, but the defining flourishes here are the lime and chaat masala added at the very end, which bring a tangy, sour-salty punch that separates a good batch from a merely spiced one. The peanuts stay whole and crunchy, coated in a fine bloom of spice rather than any batter, so the flavor is direct: roasty, hot, and bright all at once.
The technique is what makes this version reliable. The spices are measured out in advance so they can be tossed in off the heat, blooming in the residual warmth of the toasted nuts without scorching, and a five-minute cool-down lets the peanuts crisp up properly before the lime and chaat masala go on. Ready in about twelve minutes and easily scaled up for a crowd, they work as a snack with drinks, a topping for other dishes, or simply something to keep by hand. Serve them in a heap while still warm, with extra lime wedges for anyone who likes them sharper.
Masala Peanuts: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Masala Peanuts?
One serving of Masala Peanuts has about 403 calories, with 15g of protein, 17g of carbs, 31g of fat and 5g of fiber. These are estimates based on the ingredient amounts in this recipe and will vary with your exact portions and brands.
Is Masala Peanuts gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Masala Peanuts has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Masala Peanuts?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out red chili powder, chaat masala, lime — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Masala Peanuts make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.