Roasted Chestnuts – How to roast this traditional and delicious holiday snack!
Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fiiiiiiire… Or in an oveeeeeeen!
Unless you have an open fire at home, the next best thing to make these wonderful treats in is your oven.
The scenario:
Many moons ago, my sister and I decided to spend a quiet evening at home watching Christmas movies and roasting chestnuts. White Christmas was first on the list, followed by It’s A Wonderful Life and Singing In The Rain. I know that’s not a Christmas Movie per say, but it is our all-time favorite so it always makes our movie-night cut.
The food:
Roasted Chestnuts and Wine.
So far, SO GOOD!
Except we didn’t know how to exactly roast chestnuts. We knew to throw them on a baking sheet and then in the oven – and we thought that was all there was to it.
So. We spread the chestnuts on a baking sheet, set the oven at 350 because that just seemed high enough, and popped ’em in the oven. We waited, and waited, and waited… We even forgot about the chestnuts until, what sounded like a drive-by shooting, took our eyes away from the TV and ourselves behind the couches. Scariest moment, ever. EVER!
Pow! Pow! Pow! It just kept going!! We had no idea what was happening, but moments later my sister realized that it was the chestnuts popping in the oven!! LOL!! Funniest moment, ever. EVER!
First of all, thank the Lawwwwd it wasn’t a shoot-out as we initially thought! Secondly, ask your Momma about all that goes into roasting chestnuts. All that time we thought Mom just put them in the oven and that was it, but come to find out, there’s an actual technique that accompanies these delicious nuts before they meet the heat!
Mainly, you have to select chestnuts that are firm, are shiny, and ones that do not have any tiny holes around them. Secondly, and the most important part yet, run a sharp knife, making a cut across the flat side of the shell of each chestnut. You can also cut an X. Doesn’t matter how you cut it, as long as you cut. it. That, my friends, will eliminate the sound of machine guns coming from your kitchen.
To those celebrating, have a VERY Merry Christmas!!!
ENJOY!
Ingredients
- 2- pounds Chestnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Line a jelly-roll pan with foil; set aside.
- Run a sharp knife making a cut across the flat side of the shell of each chestnut. You can also cut an "X".
- Place chestnuts in prepared pan and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tender and shells are open.
- Remove chestnuts from oven and immediately cover pan with kitchen towel.
- When cool enough to handle, remove kitchen towel and peel each chestnut before eating.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I live in Portugal. It is tradition to eat a lot of roasted chestnuts around November and December. I do it like this, but if you add a lot o salt before putting them in the oven they will be delicious 🙂
Trust me!
That’s great to know! I had no idea. 🙂 Thank you, ANA!
When you put them in the oven they are fully shelled so what good is the salt on the shell?
Roasted chestnuts are one of my favorite wintertime treats! I know my grandmother made them on the stove but the oven method seems much easier to me.
What the perfect Christmas post! I’ve only roasted chestnuts once and they were delicious. Now you have me wanting to give them another try. Hope you’re have a wonderful Christmas holiday and a Happy New Year!
I’ve never tried roasted chestnuts but clearly I’ve been missing out!
Lol!! I never knew how to roast chestnuts either – good thing I found your recipe/advice. 😀
They look delish!!
I’ve always wanted to roast chestnuts. I knew there was more to it than just putting them in the oven but I wasn’t sure what. Now I just need some chestnuts! Merry Christmas, Kate!
I’ve slashed them and cooked them in the microwave successfully. Taste wise … meh. 🙂