I wanted to introduce you all to my favourite snackage at the moment. I only came across it recently when I was staying in Kep-sur-Mer in the south of Cambodia – you can read about my stay in Kep here. Most evenings we would head to the sailing club (below – the pool table was a perfect activity during cocktails hour) next to our hotel – Knai Bang Chatt – which I really recommend if you are thinking about a trip – and when you order your drink they give you a bowl of this delicious nut mix.
They are so simple to make and yet completely addictive and because they are a little salty you naturally want more to drink. Clever hey.
Anyway I thought it would be perfect to show you how to make your own nut mix at home. It makes sense to make a decent amount and then store it in an airtight container. There seems a bit of a theme with airtight containers – I blame it on the snow and being stuck inside few weeks back. There is literally 5 ingredients: peanuts – with their red skins on- fresh curry leaves, dried red chillies, garlic and salt. That said I think there may have been some lemongrass mixed in with the nuts, but I can’t be sure, so if you have any by all means finely slice it lengthways and fry it with the sliced garlic.
Cambodian Nut Mix
1 tbsp rapeseed oil
1 whole garlic, pealed and thinly sliced
2 steams of fresh curry leaves (approx 20 leaves)
5 dried red chillies
1kg of red peanuts
rock salt to taste
optional: lemongrass, thinly sliced lengthways and fried with the garlic
- In a large pan gently heat the oil and then fry the garlic so it turns a light brown. If you are also going to use lemongrass, add it at this stage. Remove and place on kitchen paper.
- Using the same pan gently fry the fresh curry leaves and add the dried red chillies. I tend to split some of them so as to release some of the seeds to give heat.
- Add the nuts and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle with salt.
- Take off the heat and add the garlic (and lemongrass if using) thoroughly.
- Once cooled store in an airtight container. They will last for ages and are good to bring out with drinks in the evening.