Spicy Cocktail Peanuts

These spicy cocktail peanuts remind me of street food in India (chakna), and they are super-easy to make. They go very well with wine, cocktails, and even mocktails (for the kids)!

Chakna (also spelled chakhna) is the Indian term for snacks eaten alongside alcohol — the equivalent of Western “bar bites.” It’s especially associated with drinking culture in North India and Maharashtra.

Common chakna dishes are spicy and salty, and often fried or grilled: this includes things like masala peanuts, kebabs, papad, and various chaat-style snacks. The idea is bold, punchy flavors that pair well with beer or spirits — a lot of chakna leans heavily on chili, garam masala, and tanginess (which is actually where tamarind or chaat masala often comes in). It’s less a specific dish than a category — basically the idea is to serve chakna with drinks as a crunchy snack.

I personally like my spicy cocktail peanuts to be bold. I like to add lemon juice for the tartness and raw red onion for the crunch. Cilantro adds sharp citrus freshness to the nutty roasted peanuts. Meanwhile, chopped jalapeños add some spice.

These peanuts are best eaten fresh so I like to make them in small batches. However, if you do have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The leftovers are a great addition to your salad or a great soup topping for lunch the next day.

Spicy cocktail peanuts was not something my mom made at home. However, when we went out for dinner, my parents always ordered these cocktail peanuts as an appetizer for the table. As a little girl, I used to look forward to our dinner outside – not for the meal, but for these crunchy, tangy and nutty cocktail peanuts. So, when I moved to U.S., I came up with my own version of the dish and I serve it at cocktail parties, super bowl parties (everyone loves it), and family get-togethers. My kids now ask for these when they have their friends over.

What are Cocktail Peanuts?

Cocktail peanuts are smaller red-skinned Spanish peanuts that are typically oil-roasted and are meant to accompany drinks. They often are salted but sometimes also include other seasonings and flavorings such as honey, chili powder, or garlic powder. This version of spicy cocktail peanuts includes a flavorful blend of red onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lemon juice, and salt and pepper for something that is so delicious when paired with your favorite alcoholic beverages like beer, cocktails, and wine.

Spice Level

I personally like the peanuts spicy so I also add chopped jalapeños to them. Jalapeños have a wonderful earthy taste and a medium spice level making them great for most palates. The jalapeños are deseeded for these peanuts so that they don’t have that unappealing texture, but removing the seeds also reduces some of the heat.

If you would like your cocktail peanuts to be more spicy, you could keep some of the seeds in or scale up the quantity of jalapeño in the recipe. Meanwhile, if you would prefer the peanuts to not be spicy or as hot, you could reduce the quantity of jalapeño or omit it altogether.

What Drinks to Serve These With

This recipe for peanut masala for drinks can be served with cocktails, beer, chai, or just as a standalone snack. The savory and spicy flavors of the cocktail peanuts pairs well with almost any drink, and particularly alcoholic beverages that have spicy notes like my Ginger Tamarind Margarita. You could also serve these chakna with drinks like sparkling mocktails.

For more party or cocktail snacks to serve with your favorite drinks, check out more of Veggiecurean’s party snack recipes here. Alternatively, if you are on the search for more Indian snacks, you will love my Namkeen (Puffed Millet) recipe which has curry spices, raisins, and peanuts.

Storage and Make-ahead

Savory nut recipes are popular partly because they store well and can be made in advance for parties. However, since these spicy cocktail peanuts contain fresh ingredients like jalapeno, cilantro, and onion, they are best served shortly after they are made. The peanuts will also soften in texture as they sit. If you have some leftover, you could store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 to 2 days, and then warm them up in a pan on the stove or in the oven to re-crisp the peanuts if desired.

 

FAQ