How Long To Cook Chestnuts In Water

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Chestnuts, although typically they are usually categorized as nuts, but in fact they are fruit, which are produced by the chestnut tree, (castanea) (called kastana – κάστανα pr. KAH-stah-nah in Greek) , which are native to temperate climates.

They grow in a green, spiky shells which when peeled reveals the nut. In Greece they are in season from finish of September to October, but you may encounter then sold up January.

Properties of Chestnuts

Chestnuts are an fantabulous source of carbohydrates, thus providing the necessary energy for our body.

They also contain high quality proteins, only unfortunately in smaller quantities.

Dissimilar other nuts such as walnuts and almonds, they contain much less fat and are rich in minerals and vitamins.

More specifically, they are considered a good source of monounsaturated fat acids and accept a loftier content of B vitamins (niacin, pyridoxine, thiamine and riboflavin).

Chestnuts are also an first-class source of iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. Another affair that sets chestnuts apart from other nuts is their high content of vitamin C.

Just 100 grams of chestnuts (ie about 4-5 medium sized) provide u.s.a. with 43 mg of this important vitamin, ie nigh 70% of the recommended daily intake.

Chestnuts are besides very rich in fiber, thus contributing to the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract while as well having a low glycemic alphabetize, which makes them a good pick for people with diabetes.

Chestnuts are quite expensive and the big ones are about five – 6 Euros a kilo and the smaller ones around 3 Euros, so when terminal week I found a deal at the farmers' market of 1.50 Euros a kilo I bought 5 kilos!!!

The chestnuts were quite big, sweet and I did not have to throw whatever away.

With the Christmas holidays now approaching I could think of a few recipes I wanted to use them in.

Peeling chestnuts is a time consuming job, so as during the holidays I didn't want to spend lots of hours peeling them, I decided to exercise this hard task now.

How to peel chestnuts:

Step i:

The first pace is to place the chestnut on its flat side and then score information technology crosswise on the rounded side. If you lot want a much easier manner, you can purchase a anecdote cutter tool or a anecdote knife.

Step ii:

The 2nd footstep is to either roast, grill or boil them.

Chestnuts baked in the oven image — Chestnuts baked in the oven

See how to roast or grill them hither.

roasted chestnuts by street vendor image — Roasted chestnuts past street vendor

We can also eddy the chestnut in guild to eat them or use them further in other recipes.

How to boil chestnuts

Put them in a pot and cover them with water.
Bring to a boil and simmer them for fifteen minutes. They tin exist peeled and used for further cooking. If you intend to swallow them, boil them for 15 more than minutes.
Let them cool for a few seconds, so that you can handle them, and peel them while they are still hot.
This way the trounce and pellicle are removed much easier.
Remove the outer shell and and then continue with the pellicle.
If you are having a hard time removing the pellicle, but put them in a bowl with boiling water and let them soak for a minute.
Have a kettle with boiling water and if the water in the basin cools, just supercede it and soak the chestnuts for 1 more than minute. You will see how easy it is to remove the pellicle again
This way the skin will loosen and will be removed easily again.

Boiled Chestnuts and How to Utilise them

A favourite fashion to eat them later humid them is to eat them as a snack.

Other uses

Autonomously from eating them as a snack, you tin can use them every bit follows:

In a stuffing for turkey.

To make chestnut puree.

To make a chestnut spread.

As a chestnut glaze on cakes. I made this one for my Christmas Cake.

As a filling in tarts. I used it in a Pasta Frolla recipe.

To make Mont Blanc.

To Coat meat, I used information technology to make Escalopes.

To make candy-coated chestnuts (Glyko Kastano). This will be my next mail.

With another further step you can make them into Marrons Glacé (candied chestnuts). This will exist my next mail.

Can I freeze chestnuts before using them in recipes?

Yes y'all tin can.

After peeling them, put them in zip lock bags or airtight containers.

Yous can keep them in the refrigerator for a calendar week or for many months in the deep freezer.

Materials

1 kilo Chestnuts

Tools

Cutting board
Chestnut Cutter tool or Chestnut knife or other sharp small-scale utility pocketknife
Pot
Slotted ladle

Instructions

Put the chestnut on its apartment side and score it crosswise on its rounded
side.
Put them in a pot and encompass them with water.
Bring to a eddy and simmer them for xv minutes. They can be peeled and used for further cooking. If you intend to swallow them, boil them for 15 more minutes.
Let them cool for a few seconds and peel them while they are still hot.
This way the shell and pellicle are removed much easier.
Remove the outer shell then proceed with the pellicle.
If you are having a hard fourth dimension removing the pellicle, just put them in a bowl with
humid water and let them soak for a minute.
This way the peel will loosen and volition be removed easily again.