Taste of the South: Best Boiled Peanuts

• Boiled Peanuts
• Cajun Boiled Peanuts
• Ham-Flavored Boiled Peanuts
• Boiled Peanut Hummus

If you happen to live outside the South, you likely haven't even heard of boiled peanuts, much less tasted them. But Southerners―from diamond-wearing dowagers to face-painted football fans―love this damp, salty snack with a passion.

Most of us purchase them to enjoy on the way to the beach or at sporting events, but boiled peanuts are very easy to make at home. The basics are water, peanuts, and lots of salt, but you can add other flavors such as ham and Cajun seasoning. Purists might disapprove, but these variations can be wonderfully tasty.