This is a common street food in the Philippines. Really easy to make and delicious to eat. This is one of the snacks I loved to eat as a child. I remember when I was very little probably around 3 or 4 years, my mom and I were riding on a bus from our province in the Philippines heading towards Manila. During one of the stops, I noticed a man carrying a box of little brown bags filled with boiled peanuts. He'd be yelling out "MANI!!!" (pronounced man-i) meaning peanut. Just imagine the peanut guy at a baseball stadium, but on a crowded street.
I eagerly tugged and begged by mom for some as he walked passed the open window. "Mama...Gusto ko yung mani!" I proclaimed. (Mama, I want peanuts!) My mom flagged the man down with a wave of her hand. "Isa pa nga po," ("One, please.") she slightly yells over the ruckus of the city. The man reaches into his little box and pulls on bag ot fresh boiled peanuts and hands it to my mom. "Magkano?" ("How much?"), she asks. I think it was around $0.10 US for a nice sizable bag at the time. She pays the man through the window as the bus heads off. That bag of boiled peanuts kept me satisfied until we reached our destination.
It's pretty easy to make, but you just need a little time. As the boiling takes a couple of hours. It is worth the wait though. The peanut inside the shell becomes soft. Easy to chew for those with slightly sensitive teeth. It's a great snack to have with a drink.
For 1 lb.
Nilagang Mani (Boiled Peanuts)
1lb raw peanuts in shell
water
salt
Fill large pot with water and the peanuts. Season the water with salt. Bring the water to a boil. When the water is boiling, low the heat and simmer for 2 hours.
For more that 1 lbs ad,usting timing accordingly.
