Cajun Boiled Peanuts feautring Woodham Cattle Co.

I’ve lived in California and North Dakota, neither of which are the South. Apparently boiled peanuts are a thing in the South and intrigued me. So when I got a peanut grower for Thirty Days of Food, I figured I may as well give Cajun boiled peanuts a go. Boiled peanuts are a fall favorite of Woodham Cattle Co. from Alabama. I only hope this recipe can do them justice!  

PEANUTS: WOODHAM CATTLE CO.
Alabama

When did you start farming? What brought you into farming?

Growing up, I’ve always had a passion and interest for farming. As a boy I always studied and paid attention to local farmers. Especially during planting and harvest seasons. I think farming is a passion you are born with. A calling. A need to be in the field producing crops and taking care of animals. In 2011, I was presented with opportunities to start my dream job of farming. With the help of my wife we were able to start a successful first generation operation from the ground up.

What crops (or animals) do you grow and why?

We have found it productive to be diversified to run a balanced year round operation. We live in “The Peanut Capital of the World”. Majority of the peanuts produced are done within 100 miles of us. Because of this peanuts are a staple item for the farm. We also use the peanut hay to feed our cattle in the winter. Cotton has always done well in our area and we usually produce some every year. Many of us refer to it as “Alabama Snow”. Wheat and Grain Sorghum are both a great low maintenance crop for us. This past summer Watermelon was a great off season cash crop for us. I’ve also always enjoyed working with Cattle. We focus predominantly on Brangus Cattle. Our registered Brangus Cattle we breed to provide other breeders a great selection of top quality Bulls and Replacement Hefers. We also have a commercial herd that we take pride in providing quality meat to the American consumers.

What do you think was the most useful advance in farming such as machinery, genetics, chemicals, etc?

Guidance systems in tractors have been very economical for the modern day farmer. Auto Steer has allowed us to operate with maximum efficiency by minimizing trips through the field, reducing over application of fertilizer, and by minimizing operator fatigue.

What is your favorite thing to do with a food crop you grow?

Boiled Peanuts are a standard fall food around here. We love eating some during football games or getting a fresh hot batch during the National Peanut festival.

What is one message you’d like to get across to the general public about what you do?

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet or what the media tries portrays in the news. Over 95% of the food and meat that are grown in the US comes from family owned farms. Not corporate farms like they want people to believe. Farmers take great pride in producing top quality products that are safe and nutritious for every family in America.

You can find more from Woodham Cattle Co. by giving their page a LIKE on Facebook. 

I decided to add some heat to these boiled peanuts. For these boiled peanuts, you will want to use raw, non-roasted or non-salted peanuts. Cooking times will vary based upon how fresh the peanuts are. 

Cajun Boiled Peanuts

Print Recipe

• Author: Prairie Californian
• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 180
• Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound of raw peanuts
• 1/4 cup salt
• 3 tablespoons cajun seasoning
• 1/2 cup pickled jalapenos and their juices
• water to fill the pot

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Instructions

1. Rinse peanuts well. Place in a large pot.
2. Add salt, cajun seasoning, jalapenos, and enough water to fill the pot 1-2 inches from the top.
3. Let the water boil 2-3 hours and add more water to keep water from completely boiling away.
4. When finished, top with water again and turn off the heat. Allow peanuts to cool for 15 minutes and enjoy!

Notes

• The cooking time can vary greatly depending on how fresh the peanuts are. The fresher the peanut, the less time it will take to cook. When done, boiled peanuts should have a similar texture to a cooked dry bean. It should hold its shape, but not crunch when bitten. However, some people do prefer them to still have a slight crunch.

This post is part of my Thirty Days of Food series where I am writing about food and farming for the entire month of November, to find out more about it all or how to follow along, visit my Thirty Days of Food page to find more great recipes with farmer features!