This post is all about how to roast chestnuts in the oven.
One of the things I look forward to most this time of year is chestnut season, and it’s finally here! Oven-roasted chestnuts (castanhas) is one of my favorite snacks to eat November through December. Sadly, they are not in season for too long, so I make sure to buy them often throughout this season and roast them any chance I get! At this time of year in Portugal, you would find street vendors selling them all over and they are so delicious! Chestnuts are very popular throughout Europe and long ago were eaten as part of a meal. Nowadays, people enjoy them more as a festive snack around the holidays. You can enjoy chestnuts on their own, with a glass of wine, or as I like to enjoy them with an espresso with milk (galão).
Chestnuts are very rich with nutrients, high in fiber, low in fat, and are great for your heart! This tasty (and healthy) treat has a rich nutty and mildly sweet flavor. Haven’t tried them yet? What are you waiting for?! Keep scrolling to learn how to prepare oven roasted chestnuts.
Roasted Chestnuts (Castanhas Assadas)
To Get Started
Gather all your ingredients
Ingredients:
Chestnuts (any quantity)
Rock salt
Water
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Using a paring knife or other sharp knife, carefully make a slit across the rounded side of each chestnut
- Gather all the cut chestnuts in a bowl and rinse under water until they are all soaked
- Transfer the soaked chestnuts to a baking sheet (make sure all chestnuts are facing slit side up)
- Quickly sprinkle a generous amount of rock salt all over the chestnuts while they are still wet
- Roast in preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the skins have peeled back and chestnuts have softened (shake the chestnuts around in oven half way through)
- Transfer the roasted chestnuts to a bowl lined with a clean towel – tightly wrap up the chestnuts in the towel and let sit for at least 5 minutes
- They are ready to eat – simply crack open the shells while they are still warm and remove any paper-like skin that may stay attached to the chestnut.
- Enjoy!
This post was all about how to roast chestnuts in the oven.
