Chestnuts do not need an open fire to be roasted.
Though the image of chestnuts roasting over an open fire is picturesque, you still need something to hold the nuts as they cook. A cast-iron pan is versatile enough to use in the oven, on top of the stove or over an open fire for roasting. As a dry cooking method, roasting adds a rich, toasted flavor to the chestnuts, but some cooks prefer to steam the chestnuts before roasting them to loosen the shells and skins underneath. This is helpful for stove-top roasting of chestnuts, but not needed for oven or fire roasting the nuts.
Instructions
On the Stove
1. Cut an x-shape into the chestnut shell with a paring knife or chestnut knife. This prevents the nuts from exploding as they cook.
2. Bring 1/2-cup water to a boil over high heat in a 14-inch cast-iron pan on the stove.
3. Arrange the chestnuts in a single layer in the pan and cover tightly with the lid.
4. Boil the chestnuts for 3 to 4 minutes or until the water boils away to open the shells. If the shells of the nuts have not split open at the x-shaped cut after the first 1/2-cup water boils away, add another 1/4-cup water and continue to boil.
5. Leave the chestnuts in the dry pan with the lid on and dry roast for 15 minutes, or until fragrant. Shake the pan back and forth vigorously every five minutes to roll the chestnuts over for even cooking.
6. Peel the shells and the skins away from the chestnuts while the nuts are still warm. Hold the chestnuts in a towel while peeling to protect your hands from burns.
In the Oven
7. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the cast-iron pan into the cold oven to warm the metal slowly.
8. Cut an x-shape into the shells of each of the chestnuts.
9. Arrange the chestnuts in a single layer in the heated cast-iron pan.
10. Roast the chestnuts in the open pan for 15 to 20 minutes or until the shells split and the nuts feel soft under the shells.
11. Peel the chestnuts while warm and wrapped in a towel.
Open Fire
12. Warm the cast-iron pan over the coals of an open fire.
13. Slit the chestnut shells with an x-shape using a chestnut knife or paring knife.
14. Arrange the chestnuts in a single layer in the pan.
15. Set the pan on a cooking rack over the fire to cook the chestnuts for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the nuts smell toasty and the shells have split. Shake the pan every minute to keep the chestnuts from burning.
16. Wrap the hot chestnuts in a towel and peel away the shells and skins.
Tags: minutes until, Arrange chestnuts, Arrange chestnuts single, chestnuts single, chestnuts single layer