Chestnut Puree Recipe -only 4 Ingredients! (2024)

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This Chestnut Puree recipe is made by slowly simmering cooked chestnuts in lightly sweetened milk, aromatized with vanilla. Blending this mixture creates a delicious chestnut spread.

Chestnut Puree Recipe -only 4 Ingredients! (1)

Chestnuts are one of those unique foods often associated with holiday celebrations.

This is especially true if you grew up in an Italian household. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas without chestnuts.

In Italian, they are known as castagne or marroni, and although this subtly sweet-tasting nut is simply enjoyed oven-roasted, they are the source of inspiration for so many appetizing and delicious dishes and desserts.

They are a great ingredient to use in savory dishes like soups, stews, stuffings or pies. They are equally enjoyed in sweet dishes and yeastbreadlike this Christmas star bread.

Making this pastelike spread from chestnuts is easier than you think. It makes a tasty breakfast condiment and it is a delicious ingredient in so many Italian desserts.

Chestnut Puree Recipe -only 4 Ingredients! (2)

Mise en place

In order to make this pureed chestnut mixture, we need about 12 ounces or 350 grams of cooked chestnuts.

You have a couple of choices. You can cook your own chestnuts or buy a commercial brand.

Chestnut Puree Recipe -only 4 Ingredients! (3)

If you are planning to make your own, you need a little over 1 pound (500 grams) of fresh chestnuts.

You have the option of boiling or roasting them. For this recipe, I used boiled chestnuts.

If purchasing peeled, buy precooked, canned, jarred or vacuum-packed. Drain off any liquid.

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat whisk together 2 cups of milk (or water) with 1-2 tablespoons of sugar.

Chestnut Puree Recipe -only 4 Ingredients! (4)

Dissolve the sugar, then add the cooked chestnuts and half a vanilla bean (scraped seeds and pod) and bring to a low simmer.

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Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes or until there are ½-⅔ cups of liquid left. Stir occasionally, especially towards the end of the cooking time to prevent scorching.

Remove the vanilla pod and discard.

Transfer the nuts, without the liquid, to a food processor and blend until smooth. If necessary, stop and scrape down the sides. Add some of the cooking liquid until the desired consistency is achieved.

Once the mixture has cooled down, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

The total yield for this recipe is approximately 2½ cups.

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How to use chestnut puree

  • Spread on toast, pancakes, crepes and sweet bread.
  • Use as a star bread filling when it is combined with other ingredients like chocolate, honey and evaporated milk.
  • Swirl into yogurts, ricotta, breakfast bowls or oatmeal.
  • Makes a great addition to a cheeseboard.
  • A delicious ingredient to use in desserts, creams, custards and so much more!

Substitutions

  • For a dairy-free option, replace the milk with water.
  • If more convenient, replace the vanilla bean with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Variations

  • To make a simple chocolate chestnut puree, simply add 30-40 grams (1-1.5 ounces) of roughly chopped chocolate and blenderize with the warm chestnuts. The residual heat of the cooked chestnuts will melt the chocolate.

How many chestnuts in one pound?

There are approximately 36 fresh chestnuts in one pound. Once cooked, this will yield 2½ cups of peeled chestnuts.

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Recipe inspiration

If you have visited here before, you know that I have a few food obsessions, Biscotti is definitely in the number one spot, I would say that chestnuts are a close second.

The truth is that my whole family went nuts for this nut! As a result, we would enjoy them throughout the fall season.

My mom would often have boiled chestnuts ready for us as an afterschool snack.

She would also use her food mill to grind them up, combine them with other spices and chocolate to make chestnut caveciuni, sweet fritters with a chestnut filling.

As I got older, I began researching recipes to make with chestnuts.

Needless to say, this is just one of many recipes I’ve been making and enjoying for decades. In comparison to similar recipes, I add a minimal amount of sugar to highlight the natural sweetness of chestnuts. Let’s just say I was listening to my inner dietitian,

Do you enjoy chestnut recipes?

Do you have a favorite? I would love to hear about it!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

I have just created the perfect printable baking checklist to help you keep track of all your baking needs. If you love to bake, this is for you!

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Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you try this recipe for homemade pureed chestnuts, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

Chestnut Puree Recipe -only 4 Ingredients! (8)

Chestnut Puree Recipe

This Chestnut Puree recipe is made by slowly simmering cooked chestnuts in lightly sweetened milk, aromatized with vanilla. Blending this mixture creates a delicious chestnut spread.

5 from 3 votes

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Course: Condiments

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 40 servings

Calories: 26kcal

Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • 350 grams boiled chestnuts cooked
  • 2 cups water or milk
  • 1-2 tablespoons sugar granulated
  • ½ vanilla bean seeds scraped
  • pinch salt optional

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, over medium heat whisk together the milk with the sugar.

  • Dissolve the sugar, then add the cooked chestnuts and vanilla bean (scraped seeds and pod) and bring to a low simmer.

  • Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes or until there are ½-⅔ cups of liquid left. Stir occasionally, especially towards the end of the cooking time to prevent scorching.

  • Remove the vanilla pod and discard.

  • Transfer the chestnuts, without the liquid, to a food processor and puree until smooth. If necessary, stop and scrape down the sides. Add some of the liquid until the desired consistency is achieved.

  • Once the mixture has cooled down, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

Substitutions:

  • For a dairy-free option, replace the milk with water.
  • If more convenient, replace the vanilla bean with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Variations: To make a chocolate chestnut puree, simply add 30-40 grams (1-1.5 ounces) of roughly chopped chocolate and blenderize with the warm chestnuts. The residual heat of the cooked chestnuts will melt the chocolate,

How many chestnuts in one pound? There are approximately 36 fresh chestnuts in one pound. Once cooked, this will yield 2½ cups of peeled chestnuts.

How much is 1 serving? One serving is equivalent to 1 tablespoon.

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.

Nutrition

Calories: 26kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 58mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

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Chestnut Puree Recipe -only 4 Ingredients! (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in hero chestnut puree? ›

Hero Premium Chestnut Puree is made from natural whole chestnuts that have been delicately peeled, ground, cooked, and lightly sweetened with natural sugar.

What is chestnut puree made of? ›

This rich Chestnut Purée is made from plump chestnuts, which have been peeled, cooked and blended until smooth and creamy. Use in soups, sauces, cakes and puddings to add a naturally sweet taste.

What can I replace chestnut puree with? ›

Unfortunately there is not really a good alternative for the chestnut puree used in Nigella's Easy-Action Christmas Cake (from Feast and on the Nigella website). Chestnuts are lower in fat than some other nuts so substituting a nut butter of hazelnut spread could cause the cake to become a little oily.

What is in canned chestnut puree? ›

Faugier Chestnut Puree is a smooth, unsweetened puree, made only with the addition of water, that retains the dense, starchy texture and nutty, sweet, earthy flavour of fresh chestnuts. Chestnut puree is fabulous for baking as well as making a quick and easy chestnut puree soup or ravioli filling.

How do you make Nigella chestnut puree? ›

In a saucepan, combine nuts, sugar and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 25-35 minutes until the majority of the liquid is evaporated. Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Strain the chestnut, reserving the sugar syrup and transfer to a food processor and blend until smooth.

Is chestnut puree good for you? ›

Thanks in large part to the chestnuts in this recipe, this puree is full of fiber, vitamins and minerals, including copper, manganese, vitamin C, B vitamins and potassium, per the USDA.

How long can you keep chestnut puree? ›

Transfer the contents of the saucepan to food processor and beat until all of the ingredients are completely combined and pureed. When ready, transfer to a bowl. You can store this mixture in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. You can use the chestnut puree to make a paris-brest, chestnut sweetbread and so much more!

What is the difference between chestnut puree and chestnut spread? ›

The spread, with its smooth texture and sweeter taste, is very popular in Europe on toast for breakfast or eaten at snack time. The purée, its flavour being closer to the original chestnut and therefore less sweet, is more frequently used in the preparation of desserts and other tasty dishes.

What is a good substitute for chestnuts in a recipe? ›

Hazelnuts or Pecans should work well, and personally I think they'd be preferable...

What is the healthiest way to eat chestnuts? ›

Cooking them before you eat them, though not required, is strongly recommended, says Applegate. “It makes the starch more digestible.” The best cooking method depends on how you plan to use them, Kamp says. For snacks and salads, you want to keep the chestnuts dry, so roasting is her pick.

What nut tastes like chestnuts? ›

One of the closest relatives to the chestnut, the beech nut, also has a nuttier flavor overall. The beech nut and the chestnut trees come from the same tree family.

What does chestnut puree taste like? ›

Chestnut purée, also referred to as marron paste, tends to have a nuttier, earthier taste, as it comes together with a mixture of cooked chestnuts, milk (or water), a little (optional) sugar, and vanilla bean (or extract). Because of its mild, versatile flavor, chefs often use it in sweet and savory recipes.

Is merchant gourmet chestnut puree sweetened? ›

This Chestnut Puree is unsweetened, but you can make a sweetened puree by combining with caster sugar and beating the mixture until smooth.

How to prepare canned chestnuts? ›

Prepping Water Chestnuts

Canned water chestnuts should be rinsed under cool, running water. To remove the "tinny" taste, soak the rinsed water chestnuts in fresh water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda for 10 minutes before slicing or chopping for various recipes.

Are chestnuts anti inflammatory? ›

Chestnuts have properties that may help reduce inflammation. The antioxidants they contain, such as vitamin C, gallic acid, ellagic acid, and various polyphenols, can help reduce inflammation. They neutralize free radicals, which are key drivers of chronic inflammation ( 2 , 30 ).

Do water chestnuts lower blood pressure? ›

Potassium, which is present in water chestnuts, may reduce your risk of stroke and high blood pressure, both of which are linked to heart disease. Studies suggest that people whose diets contain plenty of potassium have a significantly lower risk for stroke and high blood pressure.

What ingredients are in water chestnuts? ›

Half a cup of sliced water chestnuts contains about 50 calories. Although the caloric content is low, water chestnuts are highly nutritious and contain fiber, proteins, copper, potassium, manganese, riboflavin, and vitamin B6. They contain about 74 percent of water and 9 grams of carbohydrates.

What is chestnut cream made of? ›

There's no cream in it; it's just pulverized and pureed chestnuts. In some cases, the chestnuts used are already candied. (They use the brisures, the bits of candied chestnuts that are broken in the complicated candying process.)

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