Preparing chestnuts is no magic. You can bake the chestnuts in the oven, grill them or prepare them in a pan. We'll show you how it's all so easy.
When it gets cooler and darker outside, it's chestnut time. The chestnuts not only warm your hands, but are a super nutritious snack.
Who has no desire to buy expensive Moroni. This is exactly the right place. We show you how you can prepare chestnuts. And quite simply and with little effort.
But first I want to give you some info about the chestnut. Then you will know why it is worth preparing chestnuts :)
Table of contents
Chestnuts - a healthy snack
Chestnuts are rich in starch and fiber. That makes you full for a long time. They also taste wonderfully nutty. The number of calories also speaks for the chestnut. In 100 grams there are only 190 calories and 2 grams of fat.
If you can't imagine anything about it: Peanuts in the shell have 390 calories and 32 grams of fat.
That's what's in 100 grams of chestnuts:
- 27 grams starch
- 5.7 grams proteins
- 2 grams fat
- 700 milligrams potassium
- 70 milligrams phosphorus
- 60 milligrams magnesium
- 48 milligrams sulfur
- 38 milligrams calcium
- 12 milligrams vitamin A
- 17 milligrams vitamin C
- 0.2 milligrams of vitamin B1 and B2
Buy and collect chestnuts
There are chestnut trees in many parks. Most of them just don't know it :) You can recognize the leaves of chestnut trees by the fact that they are elongated, pointed in front and jagged on the sides.
From the end of September you can find chestnuts among them. At first glance, they differ from normal chestnuts by their shell. While chestnuts have coarse tips on the shell, chestnut shells are full of very fine little spines - like a cactus. And that's exactly how painful it can be if you grip tightly.
My trick: I climb onto the chestnut and brush off the shell with my shoe.
Of course, if you can't find a tree nearby, you can buy them at the supermarket. The skin of fresh chestnuts shine beautifully. If they are dull and very light, then they are older and dried up. If you see small holes in the shell, it is a sign of worm infestation.
You can test this with a bowl full of lukewarm water. All chestnuts that float to the top are bad. The others you can eat without hesitation.
Interesting facts about chestnuts
- Chestnuts are also called chestnuts, sweet chestnuts or sweet chestnuts
- They are among the oldest crops in the world
- Chestnuts are not related to horse chestnuts
- Maroni trees can grow up to 35 meters high
- Sweet chestnuts are ripe between the end of September and the beginning of October. They then fall from the tree by themselves
- Fresh chestnuts should be used up quickly - they germinate quickly
- Chestnuts are best stored in a dark and cool place
Prepare chestnuts
Fresh chestnuts are always eaten without the skin and ideally without the skin. You can prepare chestnuts with different tools.
No matter which method you choose, you must first score the chestnuts crosswise. This is very important, otherwise it could happen that the chestnuts explode during cooking.
Prepare chestnuts in the oven
Preparing chestnuts in the oven is particularly gentle. The chestnuts are placed in the oven at 200° for about 20 minutes. Without fat or oil, simply place them on a tray with baking paper. When the shell cracks open, they are ready.
The pulp is best enjoyed pure. Some swear by salt and butter. But I think that's a shame for the great nutty flavor.
Prepare chestnuts with a pan
If you don't have an oven, you can also use a cast iron pan with a lid to prepare chestnuts. The lid is important so that the chestnuts do not fly around your ears :)
I always use a slightly older pan for this. The chestnuts lose water during roasting - which then turns black in the pan. Too bad about the new pan!
Now roast the chestnuts over low heat. From time to time you have to swirl the pan, otherwise the chestnuts will burn. The chestnuts are ready when the shell opens.
Prepare chestnuts on the grill
If you haven't winterized your grill in the fall, you can use it to prepare chestnuts. What you need: a grill with a lid and a vegetable tray or aluminum tray.
With indirect heat, the chestnuts need about 20 minutes. Indirect heat is very important here, otherwise your chestnuts will burn while roasting!
Every now and then you should turn them briefly, otherwise they will burn.
Prepare chestnuts with the microwave
Yes, you heard right! You can also prepare chestnuts in the microwave. Compared to preparation in the oven or pan, they lack the typical roasted flavor. But they are juicier.
If you want to make sweet chestnuts in the microwave, don't score them. Grab a ceramic bowl, put the chestnuts in it and cover them with lukewarm water. Now set the microwave to 800 watts and in eight minutes your chestnuts will be ready.
Prepare chestnuts with own roaster
If you love chestnuts more than anything, you can also buy a chestnut maker. You can't go wrong with the model from Stöckli. There is only one on and off button. :)
Our conclusion
Chestnuts can be prepared in many different ways. It pays to have your own roaster if you can't keep your hands off the little chestnuts. Otherwise the oven will do. Or you can treat yourself to a portion at a chestnut stand.
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