These Mexican spicy peanuts (cacahuates locos) are a fun, easy, and healthy snack!
The inspiration for these hot spicy peanuts comes from Tostilocos–a popular snack you can get from street vendor carts.
If you’ve ever seen pictures of Tostilocos, they look really decadent! There are so many layers, ingredients, and flavors going on! Which is why it may be surprising to hear that I actually consider them a great example of the creative, healthy snacks we have in Mexican cuisine.
But like a lot of street vendor snacks, the base ingredients here are actually whole, unprocessed foods like nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
To make this recipe at home, I simplified a bit and removed the tortilla chips (the “tosti-” in “tostilocos”). This is mostly for convenience sake! After working with clients for 5 years, I know keeping things simple is important.
But as a dietitian, I also have to point out that this gives you more room for more of the vegetables, which is always a bonus.
Ingredients
This recipe is very customizable. You can add tortilla chips or chicharrones for extra crunch. I’ve seen versions with tamarind candy, tomato juice, and carrots! But to keep it simple, focus on these main ingredients:
- Peanuts: I recommend roasted valencia peanuts. Pick unsalted peanuts if you’re watching your blood pressure!
- Fresh lime juice
- Cucumber
- Jicama
- Hot sauce (I strongly recommend Valentina brand for this recipe)
- Chamoy
- Tajín
Cacahuates Locos Recipe
Cacahuates Locos
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp roasted peanuts
- 1/4 cup cucumber peeled and diced
- 1/4 cup jicama peeled and diced
- 1 lime juiced
- 5 tsp hot sauce or to taste
- 1 tsp tajin or to taste
- 4 tsp chamoy
Instructions
- Place a squeeze of lime juice, 1 tsp chamoy and 1 tsp hot sauce at the bottom of a glass
- Top with a layer of 2 tbsp peanuts, sprinkle with a squeeze of lime juice and dash of tajin
- Top with a layer of 2 tbsp each jicama and cucumber. Top with 1 tsp of hot sauce and 1 tsp chamoy
- Top with a layer of 2 tbsp peanuts, sprinkle with a squeeze of lime juice and dash of tajin
- Top with a layer of 2 tbsp each jicama and cucumber. Top with 1 tsp of hot sauce and 1 tsp chamoy
- Top with the last 2 tbsp of peanuts.
- Add 1 tsp of hot sauce, 1 tsp chamoy a squeeze of lime juice, and a dash of tajin. Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste.
Nutrition
I love snacks like this because they show just how many creative ways Mexican food comes up with to eat healthy snacks.
As a dietitian, I always recommend my clients choose snacks that combine carbs, protein, and fiber. This is because the carbs give you energy and help fuel you. And when you add protein and fiber, it helps you stay full between meals (1, 2).
Using this criteria, this spicy peanuts snack makes a perfect healthy snack! Let’s took a closer look at why:
High Fiber Snack
The main health benefit of this snack is the fiber content.
The three main ingredients in this snack–jicama, nuts, and cucumber–all provide fiber. The ½ cup of jicama and ¼ cup of peanuts each provide 3 grams of fiber, and the cucumber provides 1 gram (3, 4, 5).
In addition to helping you stay full longer, dietary fiber can help reduce risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol (6).
Protein
This snack provides about 9 grams of protein, thanks to the peanuts (7). Like fiber, protein helps make your snack more filling.
Protein can also help manage blood sugar (8).
Healthy Fats
Peanuts are an excellent source of heart-healthy unsaturated fats (9). Unsaturated fats can help protect against heart disease (10).
Need more recipes?
There are so many healthy Mexican recipes you can try! As a Latina dietitian, I help my fellow Latinas plan healthy meals without forgetting about our favorite foods.
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