Microwave Khari Sing Mungphali- Salty peanuts from Bombay

Bombay has it own lingo. Sing is the local so-to-say Hindi- word for peanuts, but none of the Hindi speaking people will understand the word means, because in Hindi it is called Mungphali. But Bombay is unique, a melting pot of cultures and languages and has over the years, developed its own Hindi-ish language, jokingly called Bambaiya. So in Bambaiya, peanuts is referred to as Sing.

If you walk down the streets or beaches of Mumbai, you hear the call ‘Chana- Sing’ followed by  the unmistakable aroma of roasted peanuts.

Many vendors sell peanuts on street-corners in a largish woven basket and have newspapers neatly rolled into cones in one corner, while the peanuts will be roasting with some sea salt in a large wok on a little earthen stove top with coals in it. Fond childhood memories of going for long walks with my father with cones of warm peanuts come flooding to me when I see peanuts. It is amazing how smells and food can make memories come flooding back.

It makes me really emotional… all over some roasted peanuts!

Today I bring to you a recipe from my sister’s kitchen that gives you the same salty taste, but is achieved quite effortlessly in a microwave.

Ingredients

Raw peanuts- 1 1/4 cups

Salt- 1 1/2 tsp

Water- about 1 1/2- 2 cups

Method

Soak the peanuts in water, enough to soak the peanuts. Add in the salt.

Soak this for about 15 minutes, til the peanuts absorb the salty taste.

Then drain the water and  microwave for about 6 minutes. Do not cover.

Pour the peanuts out onto a  flat plate.

The peanuts will be slightly crunchy.

Now spread them out  and put  into the microwave for another 5 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes to ensure that they get evenly crunchy.

Now depending n your microwave, this process will take 5 minutes or less. So do stop if there is any burning smell.

These are delicious by themselves,  in a salad or with some drinks.

Enjoy!