No special equipment is necessary to enjoy delicious perfectly roasted chestnuts! Learn all the tricks and tips on how to roast chestnuts at home.
Sweet, with a delicate nutty flavour, roasted chestnuts are a fantastic winter snack to enjoy by yourself or share with friends on a cosy night in.
They're highly nutritious and also naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan.
Chestnut season starts in early October and runs through until late December. They only have a short season and autumn is just the perfect time to enjoy them freshly roasted!
Whether you're lucky to have a wood nearby or you simply buy them at your local grocery store, you should definitely give homemade roasted chestnuts a try.
Roasted Chestnuts: A Super Popular Italian Treat
These delicious nuts are particularly popular in Italy ( which is actually the biggest producer in Europe), and we have actually two names for chestnuts: castagne (they're small and most widely available), and marroni (larger in size, tricker to find and more luxurious).
In Italy, you can often find roasted chestnuts stalls in every piazza, from Milan to Palermo (in Rome they're literally everywhere!), especially around the holidays between Christmas and New Years.
But we basically eat them as soon as autumn knocks at the door, and we mostly roast them at home.
What Is The Best Way To Roast Chestnuts?
There are actually two fool-proof ways to make them. Use a chestnut pan or roast them in the oven.
The traditional way to roast chestnuts is by using a chestnut roasting pan (affiliate link) or a rimmed baking pan, and cook them for about 30 minutes on the open fire, shaking the pan occasionally. This works if you have gas hobs.
If you don't have these specific pans, opt for oven roasting chestnuts instead.
This is actually the best way to roast chestnuts at home, as you don't need any special equipment to do that.
Place them on a single layer over a baking tray covered with aluminium foil, and gather up the edges to form a parcel slightly open on top.
Bake them in the oven to 425°F/210°C for 20 minutes up to 25 minutes.
Tips For Perfectly Roasted Chestnuts
Choose good chestnuts:
Not all the chestnuts were created equal and are good for roasting.
When buying chestnuts, look for even-sized nuts with undamaged shells and no pinholes ( which indicate there're worms inside). They should also feel quite heavy in your hand.
Cross the chestnuts:
Arrange the chestnuts flat side down on a cutting board.
Use a sharp knife ( a serrated knife or a pairing knife will do the trick) to score a cross through the skin on each chestnut. You can also simply score a line, it works too. Do not skip this step!
When you score the shells you help the steam to escape and prevent the explosion of the fruit due to expansion.
Peel them off quickly:
They're easy to peel whilst they're still hot, as the shells become hard to peel when they're cold.
Remove the skin with the help of a pairing knife as soon as they are cold enough to handle.
Soak them before roasting them:
Some people recommend soaking the chestnuts for 30 minutes before roasting them. Some others say it doesn't make much difference. I tend to compromise and soak them for a minute, just to make them easier to steam.
Once you have scored the outer shell, place the chestnuts in a bowl of hot water for 1 minute then drain and pat dry. This will help speed the cooking process and avoid burnt chestnuts.
How Long Do Roasted Chestnuts Last?
You can enjoy chestnuts right away or store them in an airtight container in the coldest part of your refrigerator. They should last approximately 1-2 weeks.
Hope you guys have fun making some delicious roasted chestnuts this season!
And if you're a massive fan of these delicious nuts, check these recipes out for more scrumptious ways to enjoy them.
More Winter Recipes To Try:
Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup
Sweet Potato Chicken Cottage Pie
Recipe
How To Make Perfectly Roasted Chestnuts
Ingredients
- ½ kg chestnuts
- sea salt to season
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F/210°C.
- Using a small pairing knife, cut a cross or a line into the skin of each chestnut.
- Once you have scored the outer shell, place the chestnuts in a bowl of hot water for 1 minute then drain and pat dry. This will help speed the cooking process and avoid burnt chestnuts.
- Place the chestnuts in a single layer over a baking tray covered with aluminium foil, and gather up the edges to form a parcel slightly open on top. Bake them for 20 - 25 minutes, or until they tender.
- You can also roast them in a traditional chestnut pan. Simply cook them over medium heat with a lid on, shaking the pan occasionally for about 30 minutes, or until they are tender.
- Once they're ready, peel the skin off as soon as they cold enough to handle. Do it straight away as it's harder to peel them when they're cold.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Pat Bennett says
I have failed so many times making chestnuts. This recipe has changed that. Soaking them after scoring them makes a huge difference. Thank you for helping me succeed with one of my favorite treats!
Puntz says
I've tried a variety of methods to oven roast my chestnuts, mostly without success. But reading your recipe makes me see where I've gone wrong! As it happens, I have a dozen or so in my fridge so will look forward to having roast c/n for lunch! Yum yum!
Joe says
Okay thanks!!
Kathy says
After roasting them, are they supposed to be a little soft and chewy inside? I've never roasted them before, so I roasted them another half hour and now they are rock hard. I have no idea what I'm doing!!! Some advice requested!!
Andrea says
Oh no! Looks like you overbaked them 🙁 You need to bake them for only 30 min, they're supposed to be soft and chewy! Make sure you peel them quickly, as the peel becomes quite hard after a bit.
Ben Taylor says
Roasted chestnuts are good comfort food during winter. This recipe brings very fond memories of home.
Andrea says
I used to make them all the time with my mum, and everytime I smell that amazing aroma I think about her 🙂