Heiße Maronen
Roasted chestnuts
Heiße Maronen: oven-roasted sweet chestnuts, market style
From late October the Maronibrater set up their black drum ovens on street corners in Vienna, Salzburg and every German Christmas market, and the smoky smell of roasting chestnuts means winter has properly begun. Hot chestnuts in a paper cone warm your hands first and your stomach second. At home a hot oven and a bowl of water give the same soft, sweet, slightly charred result. The commonest mistake is not scoring the shells deeply enough: steam builds up inside and the chestnuts can burst in the oven. Chef's tip: wrap the roasted chestnuts in a tea towel for 5 minutes before peeling; the steam loosens the bitter inner skin so it comes away with the shell.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb fresh sweet chestnutsglossy, heavy and without holes
- ¾ cup hot water
- ½ tsp flaky salt (optional)
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Soak the 1 ⅛ lb fresh sweet chestnuts in cold water for 10 minutes; throw away any that float, as they are usually dry or wormy. Heat the oven to 425°F (400°F fan).
10 minStep 2: Lay each chestnut flat side down and cut a deep cross through the shell on the rounded side with a small sharp knife, right through to the flesh.
5 minStep 3: Spread the chestnuts cut side up in a roasting tin and pour the ¾ cup hot water into a separate ovenproof dish on the shelf below for steam. Roast for 20–25 minutes, shaking once, until the crosses curl open and the flesh inside is golden and soft when pressed.
25 minStep 4: Tip the chestnuts into a tea towel, wrap and leave 5 minutes. Peel while still warm, pulling off the papery inner skin too, and sprinkle with ½ tsp flaky salt if you like.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 2 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does heiße Maronen take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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