Lightly salted, these chestnuts are delicious served warm and straight from the shell. They’re perfect for Thanksgiving stuffing and soups too!
Autumn is the time of year when the American Chestnut Trees in the northeast drop the nuts from their prickly burrs. As an interesting bit of trivia, there are typically three chestnuts per burr.
Gathering the chestnuts can be a fun activity. My kids love to do it at their grandparents’ farm every fall. Just be careful not to prick your hands on the burrs.
There is also the slight chance of being rained on by an occasional falling nut, bringing back thoughts of Chicken Little!
Growing up, my grandmother occasionally added chestnuts to her Thanksgiving Day stuffing. That was the extent of my chestnut consumption. These days, because we live near my husband’s parents, we are lucky enough to get our fill each fall.
Fresh chestnuts are plentiful at farmers markets and grocery stores too. We enjoy simply roasted chestnuts as a satisfying side dish. With a hint of saltiness, they also make a delicious snack!
The following technique is an updated version of how we have always done it. A family friend and fellow chestnut lover recently told us of his preferred method for scoring the chestnut along with a simple tea towel trick that made the technique we already used even better. I hope you agree!
Farmhouse Roasted Chestnuts
Ingredients
- Chestnuts
- Kosher or sea salt
- Extra virgin olive oil, optional for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Score each chestnut on the round side (see note above). Using a bread knife or another sharp, serrated knife, apply gentle pressure until you break the surface, then slash all the way across and through the round side of the shell. Cut deep enough to penetrate the hard shell but not too deep as to cut well into the chestnut. Place the scored chestnuts in a pot filled with enough cold water to cover. Bring the pot to a boil, add a big pinch of salt, and allow to simmer for one minute.
- Drain the chestnuts and place on a baking sheet with sides. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. You will be able to tell that the chestnuts are ready to be shelled if the outer shell starts to peel back from the score mark and you can see the golden chestnut within.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately cover with a tea towel for 15 minutes. This will allow the chestnuts to steam slightly, making them easier to peel. (Occasionally, there will be a chestnut that is hard to peel. It is the chestnut, not you!)
- After 15 minutes, remove the towel, peel, and enjoy warm. You may also refrigerate or freeze for later use.
- If enjoying right away, we like to brush the warm chestnuts with just enough olive oil to allow a light sprinkling of sea or kosher salt to stick.
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