Adobong Mani – Peanuts in Garlic
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Adobong Mani translates to peanuts cooked the Filipino adobo way, with lots of garlic .The raw peanuts with skin, are pan fried in hot oil, that’s been flavored with garlic. Adobong mani is street food in the Philippines. It is commonly sold in most sidewalks. There is always a street vendor lurking in the sides, carrying a large bilao (say ‘bee-lah-oh’) which is a round, flat, shallow basket. The Adobong Mani’s garlicky fragrance lures you.
When we were children, we summered in Baguio City (Philippines), and what I enjoyed best was going to Burnham Park. What made the day perfect was when the peanut vendor, sold us a bag. I cannot forget the aroma of the garlic. The little brown nuts glistened as the seller scooped a cupful to pour into a brown bag. I can still hear the sound the peanuts made as they were poured – like heavy droplets of rain on a roof, which grew faint as the brown bag filled up. I held on to the warm bag of peanuts, which we shared, as a family. I can still feel the grainy texture of the salt that encased the peanuts, and remember how I licked the salt from my hands. It was bliss to have indulged on that bag of garlicky Adobong Mani.
Today, decades later, in my American kitchen, I tried to recreate that moment, and the simple pleasure of enjoying garlic peanuts. Some things just stay with you forever.
Adobong Mani - Peanuts in Garlic
Equipment
- 1 Large Wok or Skillet - 10 to 12 inches diameter
- 1 large tray, lined with parchment paper
- 1 large slotted spoon, for cooking
Ingredients
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 1 whole head garlic, about 8 to 10 cloves; peeled
- 2 cups raw peanuts with skin
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
To prepare garlic:
- Using a mortar and pestle, or else the back of a large kitchen knife, pound the whole head of garlic, till the cloves separate. Pound the cloves of garlic and remove the peeling completely. You should have about 8 to 10 cloves from a whole head of garlic. Set aside.
To cook the Adobong Mani:
- Over medium heat, in a wok or skillet, pour the vegetable oil.Oil should be hot enough in about 3 minutes. If using a thermometer, oil should be about 350 F. (*Note: OIl should not be burning or it affects the flavors of the garlic and peanuts).When oil is hot, add the garlic pieces. Pan fry in the oil for about 2 minutes till crisp. Remove the crisp garlic with a slotted spoon, and place on the tray lined with parchment paper, to remove excess grease.
- To the same wok or skillet, using the same oil flavored with garlic, add the peanuts. Spread the nuts all over in a flat layer. Keep the temperature to a medium-low so that peanuts do not burn.Using a slotted spoon or turner, continue to stir the peanuts every so often while cooking. Keep stirring and cooking the peanuts up to 10 minutes. By this time, you will detect a nutty aroma coming from the skillet.*Note: Do not leave the peanuts unattended or do not allow the heat to go high. Peanuts burn easily.
- Using the slotted spoon, transfer the nuts to the tray lined with parchment.Incorporate the crisp garlic into the peanuts.Sprinkle salt evenly all over. Mix ingredients well.Cool peanuts for about half an hour. Serve as appetizers, sides or snacks.
To store:
- Store cooked Adobong Mani in air-tight jars or containers. These have a shelf life of about 2 to 4 weeks.
Cook's comments:
- Peanuts: I used raw peanuts with their pink skin on, which I purchase in large bags from the Asian market or online sources like Amazon, or online supermarkets. I cook the peanuts as soon as I purchase them, while still fresh.Cooking oil: I used vegetable oil for this recipe because it is a cooking oil which has a neutral flavor and which will not overpower the outcome of the garlic peanuts' taste. Vegetable oil also has enough low to high smoke points to get the job done.Caution: Do not reuse the oil used in this recipe. Discard any leftover cooking oil.
Nutrition
Notes on Nutrition: The nutrition information provided in the recipe links is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.
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