Andrew took this photo. We busted out and used chopped cashews and almonds in place of peanuts. Then we destroyed them.

One of my favorite things in the world is Indian food.  I fervently hope that when America stumbles off the World Power pedestal India is there to step up and thus spread its fine, fine cuisine all across the globe.  Of course, I suppose that’s already happening, and if you don’t need to be a superpower, why solicit the headache and guilty conscience?  So maybe India can just keep working what seems to be working.  India, you are badass!  Your food is way better than China’s!!  Gastronomic superpower status is yours for the taking!!!  That’s the idea.

Amongst the grub that confers that badass status is what Shannon calls “Indian savory snacks,” which pretty much consists of something friable fried very, very deeply and smothered in various combinations of mouthwatering spices.  The best we have found is not a savory snack you buy in a package, however, but one you can make easily at home, and one you don’t need to fry the hell out of either.  Witness: masala peanuts.

We were introduced to masala peanuts by the writer Saloni Meghani in Calcutta (or Kolkata, if that’s your political persuasion).  They are apparently widely gnoshed bar food.  I have spend many, many hours – possibly years – in bars, and I can say with complete confidence that every single minute of that time would have been enhanced greatly with masala peanuts at my side.  And it’s not just me.  My brother reeled when I introduced them to him.  He stuffed soup spoonfuls-worth into his maw.  Now, pretty much whenever I visit him, we make a massive batch.  It rarely lasts beyond that evening, even if we make pounds.  It is not unheard of to stand in the fridge in one’s underwear in the middle of the night or in PJs the morning after and continue to crush these nuts.  The Leahey family has written songs about these nuts.  If the Israelites had masala peanuts instead of manna, they would have commanded all of Canaan in four years instead of forty.  The Yahweh of the Old Testament would have been a benevolent rather than jealous god.  The planet could have been a completely different place.  That’s how momentous this shit is. Continue reading →