HOW TO ROAST CHESTNUTS
Ahh, the roasted chestnut! The quintessential winter treat!
Chestnuts are crunchy and bitter when raw, but become sweet, buttery, and soft when roasted. The scent of roasting chestnuts triggers so many wonderful food memories for me.
It’s comfort, love and laughter wrapped in a mahogany coloured shell. It does and will always remind me of the holiday’s sitting around a long table cloth topped dinner table with endless dishes of warm comforting foods served family style in the centre, and ending the meal with warm, out of the oven roasted chestnuts.
What does the charbroiled scent of a sweet roasted chestnut remind you of?
Do you roast chestnuts or do you boil them? Do you love them, or hate them?
If you LOVE them like we do then you’re in luck! I have the perfect oven roasted chestnut recipe for you to try. Frank and I have tried so many different ways to get the perfect roast and we finally did it (to be fair, he did it. I was quality control - someone had to taste test them :)
This recipe delivers easy to peel, sweet chestnuts every single time!
Oven Roasted Chestnuts
When choosing your chestnuts, make sure they are firm, solid and don’t give when squeezed. Take care when cutting the chestnuts. It’s easier if you use a serrated knife and work slowly. Peel chestnuts when they are still warm, as they become near impossible once cold.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 26 minutes, and let them rest for 5 minutes
Total Time: 41 minutes
Serves: Well this my friends is up to you :)
Author: Mary Mammoliti | Kitchen Confession
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 lbs fresh chestnuts
8 cups cold water
1/4 cup kosher salt, to soak chestnuts and more to sprinkle overtop prior to roasting
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Using a sharp paring knife, cut a slit across the round side of each chestnut.
Add water and salt to a medium bowl and mix the salt well until it's dissolved a bit (doesn't need to be fully dissolved).
Add the chestnuts to the water and mix them in the water for a few seconds. Using a slotted spoon scoop out the chestnuts and place onto a rimmed baking sheet and lightly sprinkle with kosher salt.
Place the baking sheet in the oven on the middle rack and roast for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, shake the pan, return to the oven and roast for 5 minutes and then switch the oven to broil and continue to roast for 1 minute longer.
Remove the roasted chestnuts from the oven, place them into a bowl and cover with a clean tea towel for 5 minutes. Peel and enjoy!
Why the salt water bath?
The salt water bath adds a nice subtle salty flavour to the finished roasted chestnuts.
