Boiled Groundnuts & Papaya Salad

Boiled Groundnuts & Papaya Salad with Amaranth Flowers

Groundnuts are what we call peanuts, in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the high exporters of groundnuts in Africa and it is a fact that the Dantata clan from Northern Nigeria built their wealth on trading in groundnuts...(in terms of wealth we are not talking peanuts...hehehe!)

While the rest of world only get roasted or dried groundnuts (which mostly end up becoming peanut butter) we in Nigeria enjoy the privileges of eating freshly harvested groundnuts. It is a privilege because, even though roasted or dried nuts are equally nutritionally beneficial, fresh groundnuts have a slight edge....

Groundnuts are seasonal and you may not get the fresh ones all year round, but when they are in season, you find them being sold every where on the streets of major Nigerian cities. People would usually purchase them and snack on them after they have been boiled and lightly salted.

I quite enjoy snacking on them but I also notice that after eating them, i feel a sense of satisfaction and full that I do not hunger for food for a while. From my research I discovered that with some other plant based proteins, groundnuts make you "fuller for longer". Its like wow....M&S has a whole range of fuller for longer ready meals......hhhhhmmm.

Boiled Groundnuts & Papaya Salad

So rather than just snacking on them. I decided to make a full or light meal out of them. Check out what I did below:

What you need

• Boiled groundnuts (shelled but leave the lovely skin on)
• Boiled brown beans (boil some beans in salted water until soft but not mushed)
• Ripe papaya (wash thoroughly and dice)
• Cucumber (wash clean, remove seeds but leave the skin on. Using a Y shaped potato peeler, finely slice)
• Ugu leaves (finely slice - check out more on using ugu in salads here)
• Amaranth flowers for garnish

For the dressing

• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1 pinch freshly milled black pepper
• 1-2 teaspoon lime depending on how tangy you like it

What to do

1. You can purchase the groundnuts still in their shells or you can purchase the shelled raw ones. 
2. Boil in some salted water until cooked soft. Do not over cook to avoid mushing up the beans. Allow to cool. 
3. In a large bowl combine all the ingredients in the ratio/proportions that you prefer. Carefully toss all together. 
4. In a jar add the coconut oil, salt, black pepper and lime juice. 
5. Cover the jar and give it a good shake to combine all ingredients.
6. Drizzle dressing on the salad and toss again to distribute evenly. Serve with some grilled fish or chicken to make a complete meal....

Boiled Groundnuts & Papaya Salad with Amaranth Flowers