Chestnut Recipes – More Than Just Roasting

It is that time of year again – Chestnut Season! I especially love it when roasted chestnuts are the center of the street food scene as they often are at holiday festivals. The smell of roasting chestnuts draws you in! There is nothing more delightful than strolling around a holiday market on a chilly day with your hands wrapped around a paper cone filled with hot chestnuts. I have snacked on many foods at holiday fairs, but roasted chestnuts are, by far, one of the most satisfying. The roasted notes with the natural sweetness of the chestnuts go so well together. That buttery sweetness is so unique that I think we forget that there are more chestnut recipes out there to take advantage of these delights.

Chestnut Recipes

In truth, I only have 2 chestnuts recipes. 1. How to Roast Chestnuts and 2. Chestnut spread! Although I will never bemoan roasting chestnuts at home, enjoying chestnuts as a spread is a truly delicious way of eating them! This chestnut butter of sorts concentrates that delicious buttery, chestnut flavor into pure chestnut goodness.

Chestnut Recipes

Nowadays you can purchase already cooked chestnuts at the store or online, which are perfect for making chestnut spread. You can boil your own, sure, but sometimes keeping it simple makes these treats all the more accessible.

Chestnut Recipes

I have tried making this chestnut recipe with home roasted chestnuts, but the roasted nuts get hard bits that do not blend up well in the blender. The pre-cooked or boiled chestnuts make a much smoother puree. To draw out the flavor of the chestnuts, I like to use a little vanilla and sugar, although a dash of cinnamon, a few tablespoons of cocoa or even a tablespoon or 2 of orange liquor can also be added. Chocolate and chestnut do make a nice pair and a chocolate chestnut spread is sure to be a hit. Chestnut spread is a something you can do relatively quickly and makes for a great holiday party food. People will love the taste and you will be pleased that you can serve something different.

Chestnut Recipes

Chestnut spread can be spread on just about anything ranging from toast to graham crackers to ginger snaps. A little dollop on butter cookies is also a nice treat, but for a sweet-savory nibble, mini pretzels are the perfect dipper. The beauty here is that if you want this to be a party food or something you serve when that unexpected holiday visitor pops in, you don’t have to worry about baking anything special. The spread pairs with things you might have on hand.

Here are both of my chestnut recipes…

Chestnut Recipes – Chestnut Spread

Chestnut Spread
Yields 1
Delicious and easy chestnut spread
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
10 min
1343 calories
277 g
20 g
15 g
22 g
5 g
727 g
124 g
86 g
0 g
9 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
727g
Yields
1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1343
Calories from Fat 127
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 15g
23%
Saturated Fat 5g
25%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 20mg
7%
Sodium 124mg
5%
Total Carbohydrates 277g
92%
Dietary Fiber 23g
93%
Sugars 86g
Protein 22g
Vitamin A
11%
Vitamin C
197%
Calcium
43%
Iron
23%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
  1. 16 oz of purchased, peeled, pre-cooked chestnuts
  2. 1 cup of milk plus extra
  3. 1 tsp of vanilla
  4. 2 tbsp of sugar
Instructions
  1. Mix the milk, sugar, and vanilla in a medium pot. Place the pot on the stove over medium heat and bring the milk to a simmer.
  2. Add the chestnuts. Simmer the chestnuts for about 10 minutes until they are very soft and the milk has reduced about 70-80 percent.
  3. When the chestnuts are done, carefully place the hot mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. If the blender just spins and needs a bit of help due to the thickness of the chestnuts, add some extra milk a few tablespoons at a time and pulse the mixture. Do not add too much milk as the spread should be thick.
  4. Remove the spread from the blender or food processor to a bowl to cool.
  5. When cool, cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated.
Notes
  1. Cooked chestnuts can be purchased at the grocery store or on-line
  2. Chestnut spread is great on toast, ginger snaps, graham crackers or even mini pretzels.
  3. The addition of cinnamon or cocoa powder is also lovely. Add other flavors to the simmering milk.
beta
calories
1343
fat
15g
protein
22g
carbs
277g
more
The Culinary Exchange http://www.theculinaryexchange.com/
Chestnut Recipes – Roasted Chestnuts

IMG_7690

Roasted Chestnuts
Simple roasted chestnuts.
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Print
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
35 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
35 min
1111 calories
240 g
0 g
10 g
14 g
2 g
454 g
9 g
48 g
0 g
7 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
454g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1111
Calories from Fat 84
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10g
15%
Saturated Fat 2g
9%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 9mg
0%
Total Carbohydrates 240g
80%
Dietary Fiber 23g
93%
Sugars 48g
Protein 14g
Vitamin A
2%
Vitamin C
197%
Calcium
13%
Iron
23%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
  1. 1 lb of fresh, in shell chestnuts
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 3530F.
  2. Using a sharp paring knife, make a cut across the length of the flat side of the chestnut making sure the blade cuts the shell and into the skin.
  3. Place the chestnuts cut side up in a roasting pan.
  4. Roast the chestnuts until the shells open up a little and recede - about 35-40 minutes.
  5. Remove the chestnuts from the oven and allow them to cool until they can be handled. Remove the shell and skin.
  6. Serve warm.
  7. Alternatively, the chestnuts can be served shell on and the diners or guests can peel them.
beta
calories
1111
fat
10g
protein
14g
carbs
240g
more
The Culinary Exchange http://www.theculinaryexchange.com/
I hope you enjoy.

Keep Eating! Keep Innovating!

Do you have any chestnut recipes you would like to share? Let us know all about it in the comments or on Facebook.

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