After 20 years of living in Hawaii I've really gotten
a taste for certain "local" foods. Local food isn't just Hawaiian food in
Hawaii. Local foods are the foods that have become "local" to Hawaii because of
the ethnic melting pot is unique to Hawaii.
Boiled peanuts are one of the pupus (snacks or
appetizers) that I sometimes crave. The Chinese originally brought this snack
over in the old sugar plantation days. It was made "local" with the
incorporation of Hawaiian rock salt into the recipe. I usually buy them by the
bag at the KTA supermarket in Hilo, but today I decided to make them.
Last night I soaked 1 1/2 lbs. of raw, unsalted peanuts
in a large pot
of water. This morning I rinsed them
thoroughly and then added 3 tbs. of
Hawaiian rock salt and boiled them at a rapid boil for 1 hour. Then I let them
sit in the boiling water until they cooled down to soak up more salty flavor.
They came out so ONO, just like the store bought ones and soooo easy.
