Masala Peanuts

As I prepare to go back to India for tough matters of the heart, my head is soaked in nostalgia.

This particular snack just brings back memories in warp speed. As kids of an army officer we regularly visited the Army Mess where all officers come to socialize, dine and in some cases live. In short its like a hotel. This was an extremely exciting occasion, when we, my sister and I, got to go to the Mess with my parents. We got to stuff our faces with all the bad stuff rarely allowed at home along with India’s version of the fizzy drink Thumbs Up that replaced Coke big time. Sometimes the Mess even had a library. I seriously lived on comics till quite recently. So, if I saw bundles of them lying around, it was like arriving in a candy store with an all you can eat pass. And then, what better to have something to drink and eat while I devoured the comics. A scintillating nimbu pani (Indian lemonade) or a chilled bottle of Thumbs Up with a bowl of masala peanuts (spicy peanuts) by my side. As the grownups settled in with their grownup talk and their chai, I would position myself on a couch, so perfectly happy by myself, feet dangling, unable to wait to be alone with my amazing comics to keep me happy. And as I slurped and chewed, diving into the superhero world of the Spidermans and the Supermans, you could hear me hissing and smacking as a result of the spicy goodness of this bowl of spicy peanuts! It was pure bliss. And no one dared disturb me in my moments of pure joy in fear of witnessing the worst tantrum, ever. And, why would they have anyway right? I was out of their hair for hours if they liked. Buried in a pile of comics with masala all over me! To this day I need to have something to read if I am eating something this delicious. I am quite sure you will find these only in Indian army circles. Just because I have never ever had them anywhere else. I sure hope I am not letting out a state secret!

1 cup unsalted peanuts
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder
3 tbsps cilantro, finely chopped
juice of half a lime

to prepare
Dry toast the peanuts in a pan on medium fire. About 2-3 minutes or till light brown. Turn off the fire and add the rest of the ingredients. Toss and serve immediately with a hot cup of chai or lemonade.