The Best Ways to Use Chestnuts
Youve heard of them roasting on an open fire. Youve seen them on street carts in New York in the winter. But have you ever really wondered what to do with chestnuts? The fragrant nut yes, its actually a nut is a cold-weather favorite of American culture, to be sure. But it also serves a surprising number of purposes in cookingand eating. Whether going sweet or savory, cooking or baking, its hard to go wrong with the chestnut. Chestnuts usually come raw, still in their inner skin after being freed from their spiky green outer skin seriously, these babies grow looking like porcupines!. However, most experts recommend against eating them in their raw state because of their extremely high tannic acid content. Suffice to say, its better to hold out and just eat them roasted. Perhaps the most convenient way to enjoy chestnuts is to buy them already roasted. Gefen makes delicious roasted chestnuts. But what do I do with them? One of the best ways to enjoy chestnuts is simply to eat them as is. Warm them slightly and dig in. Theyre a great snack! But there are also hundreds or more! of ways to use chestnuts that are equally delectable. Chestnuts are soft and starchy in texture, with a sweet, earthy flavor that works great in both sweet and savory foods. Here are some ideas to get you started!
Luscious Chestnut Soup
Stay warm as the temperature drops with a luscious chestnut soup. Add your chestnuts and some vegetable broth to lightly sauted onions, and bring to a boil. Fresh thyme complements chestnuts beautifully, so throw some in for added flavor. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes to a half hour and then pure until smooth. For a creamier texture, add half and half or soy milk
Sweet Chestnuts
The best way to eat sweet chestnuts is to candy them. Known in France as Marrons Glac, candied chestnuts do take a bit of effort, but starting with already roasted chestnuts certainly makes it easier. Youll need equal parts chestnuts and sugar and one and a quarter times the amount of water. You start by boiling your chestnuts in water separate from the water listed above for about 10 minutes until theyve softened. Then you can drain them and set aside. Add your water and sugar to a saucepan, adding a splash of vanilla and stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Cook the mixture for a few more minutes until it becomes syrupy. Then add in the chestnuts and stir until the whole mixture returns to a boil. At this point you pour your syrup-ed chestnuts into a covered container to absorb the syrup overnight or for 12 or more hours. This process needs to be repeated three or four times, bringing them back to a boil for a minute or two and then letting them sit for as long as 24 hours before doing it all over again. After the final stage, bake for an hour at 250F to make sure theyve firmed up. It takes a couple of days, but the results are so good you wont believe you did it yourself!
Youve heard of them roasting on an open fire. Youve seen them on street carts in New York in the winter. But have you ever really wondered what to do with chestnuts? The fragrant nut yes, its actually a nut is a cold-weather favorite of American culture, to be sure. But it also serves a surprising number of purposes in cookingand eating. Whether going sweet or savory, cooking or baking, its hard to go wrong with the chestnut. Chestnuts usually come raw, still in their inner skin after being freed from their spiky green outer skin seriously, these babies grow looking like porcupines!. However, most experts recommend against eating them in their raw state because of their extremely high tannic acid content. Suffice to say, its better to hold out and just eat them roasted. Perhaps the most convenient way to enjoy chestnuts is to buy them already roasted. Gefen makes delicious roasted chestnuts. But what do I do with them? One of the best ways to enjoy chestnuts is simply to eat them as is. Warm them slightly and dig in. Theyre a great snack! But there are also hundreds or more! of ways to use chestnuts that are equally delectable. Chestnuts are soft and starchy in texture, with a sweet, earthy flavor that works great in both sweet and savory foods. Here are some ideas to get you started!
Luscious Chestnut Soup
Stay warm as the temperature drops with a luscious chestnut soup. Add your chestnuts and some vegetable broth to lightly sauted onions, and bring to a boil. Fresh thyme complements chestnuts beautifully, so throw some in for added flavor. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes to a half hour and then pure until smooth. For a creamier texture, add half and half or soy milk
Sweet Chestnuts
The best way to eat sweet chestnuts is to candy them. Known in France as Marrons Glac, candied chestnuts do take a bit of effort, but starting with already roasted chestnuts certainly makes it easier. Youll need equal parts chestnuts and sugar and one and a quarter times the amount of water. You start by boiling your chestnuts in water separate from the water listed above for about 10 minutes until theyve softened. Then you can drain them and set aside. Add your water and sugar to a saucepan, adding a splash of vanilla and stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Cook the mixture for a few more minutes until it becomes syrupy. Then add in the chestnuts and stir until the whole mixture returns to a boil. At this point you pour your syrup-ed chestnuts into a covered container to absorb the syrup overnight or for 12 or more hours. This process needs to be repeated three or four times, bringing them back to a boil for a minute or two and then letting them sit for as long as 24 hours before doing it all over again. After the final stage, bake for an hour at 250F to make sure theyve firmed up. It takes a couple of days, but the results are so good you wont believe you did it yourself!
