Masala Peanuts

Peanuts gently coated in spicy gram flour batter coupled with a hot cup of tea is a perfect way to spend pleasant winter evenings. Usha's recipe ended my search for a M/W masala peanut recipe. These addictive pop-ins are tremendously tasty, yet fabulously fast to make. My version takes about six-and-a-half to seven minutes in my M/W. This recipe serves three.

Ingredients:

• Peanuts: (1 cup)
• Besan/Gram flour: 1/2 of 1/4 cup i.e., 1/8 of a cup
• Rice flour: 1/8 of a cup
• Jeera: 1 tsp
• Oil: 11/2tbsp
• Salt: 1/2 tsp + one pinch (or to taste)
• Hing: 2 pinches
• Water: 1/8 of a cup - to sprinkle
• Chilli powder: 1/2 tsp
• Garam masala powder: 2 pinches
• Saunf (optional): 1/2 tsp

Method:

• Mix all dry ingredients in a large M/W bowl
• Add oil and mix well
• Now sprinkle water little by little. This would mean some parts would turn into a lump. It is ok
• Mix well
• M/W for one minute
• Now using a spoon, remove the lumps
• Mix again and M/W for another minute
• Keep M/W ing (30-40 seconds at a time) and mixing till the nuts turn dark brown
• Let it stand for about ten minutes
• M/W Masala peanuts are ready!