Remove from heat and wrap in a towel or newspaper for 5 minutes. If after cooking, your chestnuts are hard and dry, they are either too old or overcooked. Alternatively, after boiling, they can be cut in half and the nut scooped out of the pellicle with a spoon. Drain, press through a wire sieve or blend in food processor. Once you ve tried them roasted you may wish to venture into recipe use.
Chestnuts are ideal as filling for pies, chocolates and ice-cream, in cakes or as stuffing.
They are found in traditional European recipes for soups, stews and pasta. They find a niche in modern times in stir fry style cooking. They are a health treat for the whole family. Use chopped cooked chestnuts in cakes or desserts in place of hazelnuts, walnuts or almonds. Roast or BBQ chestnuts and sprinkle with a little salt as a snack while the steaks cook.