Roasted Chestnuts - Castanhas Assadas

Posted on November 11, 2007
Filed Under Food

Since chestnut season has officially kicked off, I thought it would only be appropriate to put together a post on “How to Roast Chestnuts”.

Roasted Chestnuts

Roasted Chestnuts
1kg chestnuts
Sea salt
Water

If oven roasting preheat oven to 180C | 355F, if using stove top use medium low heat.

With a small steady knife make a cut in each chestnut

Rinse chestnuts well in cold water

Spread wet chestnuts on pan

Salt generously

Roast for 20-30 minutes, or until tender to taste. *Note: When roasting chestnuts they may crack and pop so it’s good to use lid then check and rotate frequently.

Portuguese eat a lot of chestnuts and to keep up with the demand, in Portugal we have all sorts of chestnut roasters. The most common home use option is a pan with perforations on the bottom that can be used on a gas stove. Chestnuts can be roasted in the oven with a cookie sheet or on a flame using a holed bottom pan. I’ve never tried this but putting a holed bottom pan on a barbeque may work well also and give chestnuts a nice smoky flavour. Chestnuts are usually done when their skin is burnt and curled up.

Serve hot! Hot chestnuts are a bit like dealing with a hot potato but taste their best when hot off the flame.

Comments

5 Responses to “Roasted Chestnuts - Castanhas Assadas”

Algarve Guide - To Do Algarve - Food - Wine on November 11th, 2007 2:58 pm

[…] Roasted Chestnuts - Castanhas Assadas […]
Gabriella Opaz on November 14th, 2007 12:22 am

Great post! While walking down any main street on a chilly overcast winter’s day in Spain, we love to buy a piping hot paper back filled with chestnuts to warm our hands and our bellies. However, I have a trick to prevent chestnuts flying out of the pan for anyone interested in following the recipe above: slice the skin of the chestnut with a knife. Just the smallest little incision will allow the steam to escape, so as not to hit you in the eye while checking on their status
Eddie on November 16th, 2007 6:22 pm

Hi Gabriella,

Thanks, I’ve been surprised how many other’s out there love chestnuts!
Julie on April 23rd, 2008 3:40 pm

I will be in Tavira later in the year, and am looking forward to this festival. I’ve managed to miss it for the last 6 or 7 years. So will you please confirm the date this year.
Eddie on May 6th, 2008 5:32 pm

Ola, As soon as we have some dates we’ll let you know.