Roasted Chestnuts
Right from the onset of autumn all the way up to winter, you can find chestnuts in German supermarkets. If you like eating fresh and local food, pick a bag of chestnuts from the nearby supermarket. Roast them by following a few easy steps, and you have a delicious and healthy snack, perfect for the cold winter days in Germany.
What are Chestnuts?
Chestnuts are nuts produced by the chestnut tree. Chestnuts grow very commonly in Germany, but the chestnuts that grow along the roads differ from those in supermarkets. The former is horse chestnuts, which are not edible (called Rosskastanien in German). The ones we get in supermarkets are edible (the common ones available are called Maronen in German) but must be roasted before consumption. After roasting, they get a sweet and nutty flavour.
Photo by Sébastien Bourguet on Unsplash
How do you differentiate between edible and non-edible chestnuts?
The best way is to look at the outer covering of the nut. While the non-edible ones have a few spikes on the covering (picture on the left), the edible ones have many more (picture on the right). Also, the non-edible ones have one nut inside the shell, whereas the edible ones have many.
Photo by Georg Eiermann on Unsplash ; Photo by PROJETO CAFÉ GATO-MOURISCO on Unsplash
However, as a consumer, buying a bag of chestnuts from a supermarket’s vegetables and fruits section is the safest option.
Can Chestnuts be eaten raw?
Due to the high Tannic acid content in chestnuts, they must not be eaten raw. Foods high in tannic acid can cause stomach irritation, digestion issues, etc. So cooking the chestnuts (boiling/steaming/roasting) before consumption is safest.
What is the nutrient value of chestnuts?
Chestnuts are high in antioxidants and rich in potassium and fibre. It is also known to be great for heart health.
When and where are chestnuts available in Germany?
In Germany, roasting chestnuts at home is common; in some ways, it symbolizes the arrival of cold winter days. Chestnuts are commonly available in Germany (most commonly in supermarkets) from the start of autumn (October) until December. However, some shops sell them later too. But they are winter food; you may not find them in spring and summer.
Roasted chestnuts are a common snack sold at Christmas markets in Germany. On a cold winter day, when you are outdoors, roasted chestnuts not only warm your body but also your soul.
Can roasted chestnuts be made at home?
Yes, they can be. The process is quite simple. It involves giving the chestnuts a cross-cut, then soaking them and finally roasting them in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
Cross cuts are made on the shell to make it easy to open once roasted. You can either use a kitchen knife to do so, or you can use a chestnut cutter, which has serrated blades, which makes the job a lot easier.
You will need a bowl to soak the chestnuts and an oven in which you will roast the chestnuts. You can also roast them in an Air Fryer.
How to make roasted chestnuts at home?
Roasting chestnuts is very simple and can be done in a few easy steps:
Give a crosscut on the chestnut.
Now, soak the chestnuts in water for at least 2 hours.
After 2 hours, pat them dry and spread them on a baking tray. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C for 10 minutes. 
Then, roast the chestnuts in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes or until the shells peel off. You can use the ´roast function in your air fryer too. It takes about 15 minutes in the air fryer. 
Let them cool until it is easy for you to touch them. Then, pull out the shell using your fingers. It comes out very easily.
Roasted Chestnuts are ready!
To check out other recipes, click here.
If you need help identifying and understanding products in German supermarkets, click here.
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