Pan-Roasted Chestnuts

One of the first signs of winter, aside from holiday lights, is roasted chestnuts sold on city streets. Slowly roasted, the chestnut, which is more like a starch than a nut, makes the perfect sweet and savory snack. Plus it’s healthy: low in fat and calories; full of fiber, calcium, and vitamin C.

Since chestnuts are highly perishable, they need to be eaten soon after purchasing them, and they should be stored in a breathable bag in the refrigerator.

Chestnuts can be tough to peel, and while freshness plays a part in this, so does the cooking method. This pan-roasted technique steams the chestnuts first to open the shells and separate the skin from the flesh. Then the steamed chestnuts are slowly roasted in the same pan. The process is easy, and the results delicious. For an alternative chestnut roasting method, check out our oven-roasted chestnut recipe.

This recipe was featured as part of our Winter Ingredients photo gallery.