Yup, that’s right, there is an entire market in Lucknow that is dedicated to peanuts! Whether you like your peanut roasted, with chaat masala or simply plain by itself, the foodie in you needs this market!
Set up near City Station, Moongphali Mandi can be best described as a flea market for dry fruits, specializing in peanuts. There are more than 20 vendors who set up their shanties, which have huge sacks of peanuts and a small burner and pan to roast them. While some of them are local vendors, others come from the neighbouring towns with their families, and set up camp in the market for a few months.
Some of the other items available in the market are winter snacks like chikki, laddoo, gajak and even papad and sev.
Though the market is put up throughout the year, the best peanuts are available during the latter part of the year – October to December.
NL Tip: To know if the peanut you are buying is fresh, break the kernel and take a look at its papery skin. A new peanut has a lovely pinkish skin, and as the peanut grows older, the skin becomes darker, almost a rust-brown colour.
Timings: 8.30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Price: Rs. 60/kg onwards
Location: Nabiullah Road, Near City Station, Lucknow
