Chestnuts

Chestnuts have a hearty, savory, slightly sweet taste and meaty texture. Highly nutritious, chestnuts have been cultivated in the Mediterranean, southwestern and eastern Asia for centuries where they continue to be an important food crop.

While most of us associate chestnuts with being roasted in shell, the versatile nut can also be eaten candied or boiled. The French call candied chestnuts marrons glacés. Chestnut-based recipes and preparations are also making a comeback in Italian cuisine. When ground into flour, chestnut flour can be used to prepare bread, cakes and pasta. Because of their high starch content, chestnuts can also be used as a substitute for potatoes or pasta.