Baked Chestnuts

Baked chestnuts are a delicious and traditional autumn snack. Here is how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• Fresh chestnuts
• Water

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Score an X on the flat side of each chestnut with a sharp knife. This helps steam escape and prevents the chestnuts from exploding in the oven.
3. Place the chestnuts on a baking tray with the cut side up.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chestnuts have opened and are soft inside.
5. Let the chestnuts cool for a few minutes before peeling.

Remember that scoring is important, otherwise the chestnuts could explode during cooking due to the buildup of internal steam.

Curiosity

The tradition of eating roasted chestnuts during the colder months dates back centuries. In Italy, especially in the Centre and the South, there’s a long history associated with this autumn fruit, and in the squares of many cities, it’s common to find roasted chestnut sellers when the temperatures start to drop.

Enjoy your tasting!