No-Fry Masala Peanuts –delicious, crunchy and healthy baked peanuts coated in a simple mixture of besan/chickpea flour, rice flour and spices; a perfect guilt-free Indian snack to enjoy any time!
I love peanuts in any form; fried, in curries, roasted, coated in honey (or even spicy masala powders), in baked cookies and cakes, as peanut butter etc.
But my favorite is fried peanuts (with or without coated masalas). You can check out how to make plain fried peanuts here.
Whenever I have the urge to munch on peanuts, I reach out to my favorite masala peanuts coated in besan, rice flour, chili powder (cayenne pepper powder) and salt. But the traditional way is to deep fry them in oil.
Takes only a few minutes but once done, just try and keep me away from these delicious crispies!
Recently, when I came across Soumya’s recipe for microwave masala peanuts on Instagram, I was super tempted as they looked so delicious and absolutely no frying, so no guilt about ingesting all that oil!
The ingredients for Masala Peanuts are the same as that for fried masala peanuts but instead of deep frying, it is microwaved for just about 4 to 5 minutes! Yes, yum spicy and guilt-free masala peanuts ready in just 5 minutes!
As a variation, I was curious to bake these in a convection oven and these turned out amazing too!
So take your pick! Microwave or bake in regular convection oven or do both; you will find it difficult to resist these crispy, spicy and super delicious Masala Peanuts! I know my husband and I had to literally stop ourselves on gorging on these as although almost oil free, too many peanuts in one go is not so healthy too!
The toughest part is waiting for those baked nutty delights to cool! Even when slightly warm, they will be slightly soft. They need to cool thoroughly to crisp up and turn crunchy! So patience my foodie friends!
I know I am making these again and again; husband approved is totally approved and on my blog!
This time, the bimonthly theme in our gourmet food group “Healthy Wellthy Cuisines” on Facebook is "peanuts" as suggested by our foodie friend and food blogger Jayashree Trao. Do check out her beautiful blog "Evergreen Dishes" for many delicious and healthy dishes to cook in your kitchen!
I have always been ‘Nuts about Peanuts” and my contribution is going to be No-fry Masala Peanuts baked in microwave and convection oven!
Do give this quick snack a try and try and resist these mildly spicy crunchy peanut goodies! I know I am finding it difficult! Enjoying every crunchy bite!
If you do make this delicious Indian delight, do not forget to rate and leave a comment in the comment box below.
You can also share your version of this on Instagram using my Instagram handle @curryandvanilla16/#curryandvanilla16 or on my Facebook page.
If you are a peanut freak like me, then you too can go "Nuts for Peanuts" with more peanutty delights shared by my blogger friends:
- Peanut Chaat by Shalu
- Peanut Curd/Vegan Curd by Jayashree
- Shengdanyachi Chutney (Maharashtrian Peanut Chutney) by Poonam
- Eggless Peanut Cookies by Sasmita
- Dry Peanut Chutney (without garlic) by Shalu
- Peanut Chaat with mangoes, green peas and corn by Sujata
- Corn Peanut Chaat by Swaty
Now, let us see how to make these guilt free No-fry Masala Peanuts, my way:
Delicious, crunchy and healthy baked peanuts coated in a simple mixture of besan/chickpea flour rice flour and spices; a perfect guilt-free Indian snack to enjoy any time!
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanuts with skin
- 4 tbsp besan/chickpea flour
- 2 tbsp rice flour
- 1 tsp red chili powder (or to taste depending upon the spiciness of the chili powder)
- ¼ tsp hing/asafetida powder (optional)
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp water (approximately)
Instructions
- Wash peanuts in a bowl and drain.
- To the drained peanuts, add the other ingredients: besan, rice flour, chili powder and salt.
- Mix well using our hands to coat each peanut with this mixture. The moisture in the washed peanuts is enough to coat it a bit.
- Now, add 2 tbsp of oil and some more water, adding a teaspoon at a time, to coat all the peanuts well with a slight coating of the spices and flours. DO NOT ADD TOO MUCH WATER.
- Make sure all the peanuts are lightly coated with the masala and try to avoid clumps of peanuts. Keep separating them so each peanut is separate as much as possible.
- Transfer the peanut mixture to a parchment paper lined microwave dish/plate; try to avoid clumps of masala peanuts by separating the coated peanuts.
- Microwave on high for 4 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the peanuts lest they burn!
- If your microwave has a turntable, it is fine. But if it does not, rotate your plate halfway through the process.
- The time taken to cook will depend upon the wattage of your microwave; it could take more time or even less but do not let it over cook and burn!
- My peanuts were done in 4:30 minutes; I noticed the peanuts at the center of the plate starting to burn.
- Remove from oven.
- Let cool completely before stuffing your mouth with these super delicious, low-calorie, irresistible No-Fry Masala Peanuts!
- Follow the same procedure as before to coat the peanuts with masala.
- Bake at 180 degrees Centigrade or 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 minutes.
- After 7 minutes, stir the peanuts well on the pan and bake again for 5-7 more minutes; again do not let it burn.
- Remove and let cool completely.
- Once totally cool, serve delicious, No-Fry Masala Peanuts as a snack/appetizer with your evening chai/coffee or as a starter at any party or get together!
- Enjoy Foodies and Happy Baking!
Notes
Adjust the baking times according to your oven. Each oven is different.
The amount of chili powder can be adjusted to your taste.
If needed, add more of your favorite spices like amchur (raw mango powder), chaat masala powder, coriander and/or cumin powders etc.
Let cool thoroughly before indulging on these irresistible snacks!
STEP-WISE INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE NO-FRY MASALA PEANUTS IN MICROWAVE AND CONVECTION OVEN:
Wash peanuts in a bowl and drain.
To the washed and drained peanuts, add the other ingredients: besan, rice flour, chili powder and salt.
Mix well using our hands to coat each peanut with this mixture. The moisture in the washed peanuts is enough to coat it a bit.
Now, add 2 tbsp of oil and some more water, adding a teaspoon at a time, to coat all the peanuts well with a slight coating of the spices and flours. DO NOT ADD TOO MUCH WATER.
Make sure all the peanuts are lightly coated with the masala and try to avoid clumps of peanuts. Keep separating them so each peanut is separate as much as possible.
TO BAKE IN A MICROWAVE OVEN:
Transfer these to a parchment paper lined microwave dish/plate.
Microwave on high for 4 to 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the peanuts lest they burn!
If your microwave has a turntable, it is fine. But if it does not, rotate your plate halfway through the process.
The time taken to cook will depend upon the wattage of your microwave; it could take more time or even less but do not let it over cook and burn!
My peanuts were done in 4:30 minutes; I noticed the center peanuts starting to burn.
Remove from oven.
Let cool completely before stuffing your mouth with these super delicious, low-calorie, irresistible No-fry Masala Peanuts made in a microwave!
TO BAKE IN A CONVECTION OVEN:
Follow the same procedure as before to coat the peanuts with masala.
Bake at 180 degrees Centigrade or 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 minutes.
After 7 minutes, stir the peanuts well on the pan and bake again for 5-7 more minutes; again do not let it burn.
Remove and let cool completely.
Once totally cool, serve delicious, No-Fry Masala Peanuts as a snack/appetizer with your evening chai/coffee or as a starter at any party or get together!
Enjoy Foodies and Happy Baking!
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Have fun cooking, eating and sharing!!!!
CRunchy munchy peanuts are perfect tea time snacks. I follow somehow same process to make. Such a guilt free snack if we make like these instead of deep frying.
Wow loved this crunchy spicy masala peanut Vanitha. Saving this recipe to try soon. Hope I can make it today. I also love peanut in any form and this masala peanut tempting me try immediately. I will follow convection method. Who can say no to this guilt free snack. Healthy and delicious share ☺️
Loved both the versions of this tasty nuts. This is a good way to binge these peanuts.
Masala peanuts are my favorite. And your share is absolutely guilt free and healthy. Superb!!
Awesome. No can say NO to this guilt free, tasty and very addictive snack. Loved your detailed instructions .
We love these crunchy munchy peanuts for chai time. love both your versions in microwave and oven.low oil guilt free and so easy to make.
The baked masala peanuts look so crsip ! Such a guilt-free snack this is !