Caramelized Chestnuts Recipes

CARAMELIZED CHESTNUTS AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Using a paring knife or a chestnut knife, cut a large X into the shell of each chestnut on one side. Arrange on a baking pan in a single layer, cut side up. Roast until flesh is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Immediately remove and discard shells, keeping chestnuts whole if possible. Set chestnuts aside.
• Melt butter and oil in a large saute pan set over medium-high heat. Add brussels sprouts; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 16 to 18 minutes.
• Add roasted chestnuts. Cook, gently stirring occasionally, until brussels sprouts are tender and spotted deep brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Add vinegar, sugar, and turkey stock. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has been reduced to a syrup, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, and serve.

CARAMELISED NUTS

Steps:

• Mix together all the ingredients in a pan and place over a moderate heat. Stir constantly, allowing the mix to caramelise and turn brown and making sure all the nuts are well coated.
• Pour the nuts onto some greaseproof paper. Don't worry if they are stuck together, as they can be separated when cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

MARRONS GLACé (CANDIED CHESTNUTS)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Place the chestnuts in a large pan with just enough water to cover them. Bring the water to a boil and cook the chestnuts for 10 minutes.
• Drain the chestnuts and discard the cooking liquid.
• Using a clean dish towel (some people prefer to use their fingers), rub the thin skin off the cooked chestnuts. Be careful as they might be hot, but right after they've been boiled is when removing the skin is the easiest.
• In a separate pan, bring the 2 1/2 cups water, granulated sugar, and vanilla to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Continue cooking the sugar mixture for 5 minutes, but now stirring occasionally.
• Add the prepared chestnuts to the boiling sugar syrup and stir the chestnuts until the whole mixture returns to a boil.
• Continue cooking the chestnuts, stirring frequently, for 10 more minutes.
• Pour the candied chestnuts along with the syrup into a large container and loosely cover it.
• Allow the chestnuts to soak in the syrup for 12 to 18 hours.
• Once the soaking time has passed, place the chestnuts and syrup into a clean pan and let boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Place the mixture in the same container you soaked them in the first time. Cover loosely for 18 to 24 hours.
• Repeat the entire process a total of 3 to 4 times (boil for 2 minutes, soak for up to 18 hours) until the sugar syrup has been totally absorbed by the chestnuts.
• Once there's no more liquid, it's time to bake the chestnuts in a preheated oven at 250 F. Arrange the candied chestnuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Place the baking sheet into the oven and turn off the heat. Allow the chestnuts to dry in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour until they have firmed up and the surfaces of the nuts are dry.
• Store the marrons glacé in an airtight tin, or if making for gifts, put into paper cases and box or wrap in cellophane. Enjoy.

VENISON LOIN ON SCHUPF NOODLES WITH LINGONBERRY COGNAC SAUCE, CARAMELIZED CHESTNUTS AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Venison Loin: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Sear steaks quickly in a hot pan with olive oil on both sides and finish in oven to desired doneness. Slice meat and fan it out.
• Serve with Lingonberry Cognac sauce, crispy potato noodles (Schupf Noodles), Caramelized Chestnuts and green asparagus.
• To peel chestnuts, cut an "x" with a paring knife in the flat side of the nut. They can be either boiled or roasted just until the skin begins to pull away. Work in small batches, keeping the chestnuts warm, and pull and cut away the tough outer skin. Clean chestnuts the thin brown skin from the chestnuts. Melt sugar until it is caramel color and add red wine until smooth and caramel sugar is melted. Add cleaned chestnuts, toss, and set pot aside.
• Sweat shallots in butter. Add orange juice and red wine. Reduce down to 1/2. Add lingonberries, cognac, and veal-glace. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Add mustard and simmer for 10 more minutes. Then strain through china cap.
• Bake potatoes until very soft. Let cool. Peel and shred potatoes through a very fine shredder into a large mixing bowl. Add spices, egg, and flour. Mix all ingredients quickly to form a dough. Now roll the dough into rounds, about 1/4-inch thick and 4-inch long.
• Place noodles on flour dusted plate and put in freezer. Noodles can be prepared a few days before the dinner. To finish noodles, fry in canola oil until golden brown and crispy.

CHOWDER OF SCALLOPS, CELERIAC, AND POTATO WITH CARAMELIZED PEAR AND ROASTED, CRUSHED CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute until softened, but not browned. Add the wine and continue cooking until volume is reduced by half. Add the celery root and potatoes. Cover with stock or water by 1-inch. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to a low simmer, and cook until potatoes are very tender. Using an immersion blender, puree the vegetables until very smooth. Add the cream and return to a simmer. Stir constantly; at this point the soup can burn easily. Season with salt, white pepper, and lemon juice, to taste.
• Meanwhile, place the diced potato and celery root in a separate large saucepan and cover with cold water. Season with salt and bring to a simmer. Cook until just tender and then strain and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add scallops and sear until golden brown on both sides. Remove scallops from skillet and set aside. Ladle some of the soup base into the skillet to deglaze, scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, and then scrape back into the large pot of soup. Add the scallops into the soup and keep warm over low heat.
• Meanwhile, in another large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add pears and chestnuts and saute until just beginning to brown. Season with nutmeg, to taste. Set aside.
• Divide the diced, cooked potato and celery root evenly among soup bowls. Ladle the soup into the bowls and sprinkle with pears, chestnuts, and cheese. Serve with crusty bread or toast.

CARAMELIZED CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325° F.
• Into a large bowl sift together confectioners' sugar and salt. In a shallow baking pan arrange chestnuts in one layer and bake in upper third of oven 6 to 8 minutes, or until hot and outsides are dry. Add hot chestnuts to sugar mixture, tossing gently to coat, and put a rack over baking pan. In a 3-quart saucepan heat 1 1/2 inches oil over moderate heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 350° F. Working in batches of 8, fry chestnuts 1 to 2 minutes, or until brown and crisp. With a slotted spoon transfer chestnuts as fried to rack. Return oil to 350° F. between batches and carefully skim caramelized sugar from surface of oil as necessary. Chestnuts are best served immediately but may be made 1 hour ahead and kept, uncovered, at room temperature.

CARAMELIZED CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake chestnuts on a baking sheet in middle of oven until slightly dried and a shade darker, about 30 minutes. Cool chestnuts completely on a rack.
• Cook sugar in a dry 10- to 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, swirling and shaking skillet (to help sugar melt evenly), until caramel is deep golden. Remove from heat, then prop skillet up against a ramekin or metal cookie cutter, tilting it just enough for caramel to pool. Add 1 chestnut to caramel and evenly coat by turning with 2 forks, then transfer with forks to a sheet of foil to cool. Coat remaining chestnuts in same manner. (If caramel starts to harden, melt over moderately low heat, stirring.) Once completely cooled, peel chestnuts from foil.

PAN-FRIED DUCK BREAST WITH CREAMED CABBAGE, CHESTNUTS & CARAMELISED PEAR

Steps:

• Lightly score the skin of the duck breasts, then season well. Place a non-stick pan over a medium heat, then lay the duck in the pan, skin-side down. Cook until the fat starts to come from the duck, then add the garlic and thyme. Turn down the heat, then continue to cook for 15-20 mins, depending on the size of the duck breast, until the skin is really crisp and brown. As it cooks, pour the fat into a large pan for the cabbage.
• Flip the duck over, cook on the flesh side for 3 mins until browned, then turn off the heat (this will result in meat that is pink in the middle - cook for a few minutes longer if you like it well done). Leave the duck in the pan to rest.
• While the duck cooks, heat 1 tbsp of its fat in the other pan. Add the celeriac and bacon, then gently fry for 5 mins until the celeriac has browned and the bacon starts to crisp. Add the thyme, then the cabbage. Fry the cabbage for 5 mins until it starts to wilt. Add 100ml water and simmer for 5 mins until the water has evaporated and the celeriac is soft. Pour in the cream, stir to coat, then add the chestnuts and heat through. This can be done up to a day ahead - cook the celeriac in 1 tbsp vegetable oil instead of the duck fat and reheat with an extra splash of cream before serving.
• Cut the pear in half and use a melon baller or teaspoon to scoop out the core. Place a star anise in the cavity of each half.
• Place 3 tbsp of the icing sugar in a non-stick pan and heat to make a light amber caramel. Pour in the vinegar and bubble to make a sticky syrup. Dust the pear halves heavily with the rest of the icing sugar, then place the pan back on the heat. Cook the pear for 10 mins until brown and caramelised all over. This can be done up to a day ahead and reheated, adding a splash of water.
• To serve, slice each duck breast lengthways and dress the watercress in the olive oil and vinegar. Spoon a neat mound of cabbage on one side of each plate. Place a pear half, cut-side up, on the opposite side of the plate and drizzle the sticky sauce around it. Place the outside slices of duck breast on the cabbage and fan the rest of the duck over. Scatter the dressed watercress sprigs around the sides of the plates and serve.

CARAMELIZED CHESTNUTS AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 400°. Using a paring knife or a chestnut knife, cut a large "x" into the shell of each chestnut on one side. Arrange on a baking pan in a single layer, cut side up. Roast until flesh is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven. Immediately remove and discard shells, keeping chestnuts whole if possible. Set chestnuts aside. 2. Melt butter and oil in a large sauté pan set over medium-high heat. Add brussels sprouts; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 16 to 18 minutes. 3. Add roasted chestnuts. Cook, gently stirring occasionally, until brussels sprouts are tender and spotted deep brown, 20 to 25 minutes. 4. Add vinegar, sugar, and turkey stock. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has been reduced to a syrup, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish, and serve.

CARAMELIZED ONION-BUTTERNUT ROAST WITH CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the onions and olive oil in a 9x13" baking dish, tossing to coat the onions with oil. Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring 3-4 times with a wooden spoon, until the onions are browned and sizzling. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• While the onions are roasting, prepare the whole, unpeeled chestnuts as follows: Slice a little slit in the shell of each chestnut to prevent them from exploding. Place the chestnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and place in a kitchen towel. Let cool a bit and crush them inside the towel to loosen their shells. Open the towel and remove the shells from the chestnuts.
• Coarsely chop the peeled chestnuts and add to the pan with roasted onions.
• Add the diced butternut squash, white beans, thyme, coriander, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and broth to the baking pan, stirring so that the chestnuts, squash and beans are well coated. Tightly cover the baking pan with aluminum foil and bake for 35-45 minutes, until the squash and chestnuts are tender.
• Toss together the bread crumbs, oil and sage in a bowl. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Remove the foil from the baking pan, top with the crumb mixture and bake for another 15 minutes, until the top is lightly browned.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND CHESTNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread bread cubes in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Transfer to large bowl; cool.
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté 10 minutes. Add rosemary; sauté until onions are golden brown, about 10 minutes longer. Add celery and sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add chestnuts and stir to blend. Transfer onion mixture to medium bowl. Mix in parsley. Add broth to skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add to onion mixture. (Bread and onion mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately. Store bread at room temperature; refrigerate onion mixture.) Stir onion mixture into bread. Season with salt and pepper. Mix eggs into stuffing.
• To bake stuffing in turkey:
• Loosely fill main cavity with cool stuffing. Butter glass baking dish. Spoon remaining stuffing into prepared dish. Cover with buttered foil, buttered side down. Bake stuffing in dish alongside turkey until heated through, about 20 minutes.
• To bake all of stuffing in baking dish:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish. Cover with buttered foil, buttered side down, and bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.