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Roasting Chestnuts

By Rebecca Joerres, December 10, 2010  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Rebecca Joerres
The smell of roasting chestnuts always reminds me of the holiday season in New York City, when it seems like there’s a street vendor roasting chestnuts on just about every other corner. If you love chestnuts, and have always wondered how to roast them at home – here’s how:
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. With a very sharp knife, cut an X in the rounded side of each chestnut, making sure to cut all the way through the shell. This is an important step, because it will prevent the chestnuts from exploding.
  3. Place the chestnuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of water over the chestnuts, shake the pan, and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
  4. Wrap them in a towel, and let them sit for about 10 minutes. Crush them gently with the bottom of a heavy pan. Unwrap the towel, and place the chestnuts in a big bowl.
  5. Take the bowl to a comfy spot (a roaring fire is good) with some friends and family (and maybe some glasses of port). Peel the skins off of the meat, while you have a pleasant chat.
You can also give them a try in these recipes: Chestnut and Wheat Berry Salad Brussels Sprouts with Roasted Chestnuts Chestnut Stuffing Or pick up a jar of prepared chestnuts to use in this Madeira-Glazed Chestnuts recipe. How do you enjoy chestnuts?
Category: Holidays 2010
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7 Comments

Comments

Judy Orcutt says ...
You can also do them in the microwave ! They taste wonderful. Just do the x on the shell and put them in for 2 to 4 minutes. Mine are finished in about 2 to 2.5 minutes & I am using the big Italian ones. Let them cool before trying to remove shell.
12/10/2010 1:25:28 PM CST
Deetta Graziosi says ...
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05/30/2011 6:48:48 PM CDT
Sms says ...
Great Info. Tweeted about it. I’ll bookmark this post too.
08/08/2011 4:56:39 PM CDT
Rozanne Wicher says ...
Nice site you have here ill be sure to bookmark and visit often.
11/12/2011 4:25:12 AM CST
Ryan Carteret says ...
Well, I love roasting them, when they aren't infested with maggots like my last bag that I just picked up two days ago!! :(
12/19/2011 6:13:41 PM CST
janejohnson says ...
@Ryan Oh no! So sorry to hear that! We have a 100% satisfaction grantee. Please return the bag on your next trip and explain what happened. I know it's difficult to make extra trips and brave the traffic this time of year but we will be happy to replace your chestnuts or refund your money. Again, thanks for reaching out. We're terribly sorry for the ruined product!
12/20/2011 12:35:12 PM CST
HoteisemFlorianopolis says ...
Awesome article, I am going to spend more time doing some research but this has helped me out. Thanks again!
08/15/2012 6:41:39 AM CDT