Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

Ingredient Name:  Peanuts, ground nuts, or earthnuts

Traditional Chinese Name: 花生  (huā shēng)

What is this?

• Peanuts are part of the bean family
• The plants grow no taller than 1.6 feet in height and produce a legume which contains seeds in it
• It is during cultivation that the plant has turned downwards and put the fruit on the ground where it matures and turns into the peanuts that we see commercially
• The Chinese consume peanuts widely and are the world’s largest producer of peanuts
• It is commonly found in soups, dishes, and desserts

How do I prepare it?

• Rinse with warm water before using in soup
• You can use raw peanuts as well as cooked peanuts for soups

Where can I buy this?

Peanuts can be found in all supermarkets and even snacks
It is best to purchase unprocessed peanuts (unsalted) for soup usage

What is the cost?

• Peanuts are very affordable.  A bag of peanuts can cost $3-5 CAD 

Any benefits?

• Peanuts have a high source of nutrients with over 30 essential nutrients
• They are high in protein and energy and have a high content of unsaturated “good” fats
• Excellent for brain health and circulation and blood flow
• Peanuts also contain a high amount of anti-oxidants that help slow down the process of aging

Any precautions?

• Peanut allergies are relatively common so consume when you’re sure no allergies are present
• Boiled peanuts have a lower risk of causing an allergic reaction over roasting (as some studies have shown)

Resources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut