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Kurikinton
Sweet potato and chestnut mash
Kuri kinton (栗きんとん): golden sweet potato and chestnut mash for New Year
Kurikinton means 'chestnut golden mound', and its bright yellow colour is meant to look like piled gold, which is why it sits in the osechi box at New Year as a wish for wealth. Smooth, sweet mashed sweet potato is folded around whole candied chestnuts, giving a dessert-like side that children love. The traditional yellow comes from dried gardenia pods cooked with the potato. The common mistake is mashing the potatoes without sieving them, which leaves fibres; pushing them through a sieve while hot gives the silky, glossy finish. Chef's tip: peel the sweet potatoes thickly, cutting away the layer just under the skin, as that is where the grey colour and stringiness sit.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb yellow-fleshed sweet potatoesJapanese satsumaimo if possible
- 1 dried gardenia pod (kuchinashi) (optional)cracked, for colour
- 12 sweet chestnuts in syrup (kuri kanroni)plus 100 ml of their syrup
- 2 ⅛ oz sugar
- 3 ½ tbsp water
- 1 pinch salt
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What you'll need
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Peel 1 ⅛ lb yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes thickly, cut into 2 cm slices and soak in cold water for 15 minutes, changing the water once, to remove bitterness.
Step 2: Put the slices in a pan with fresh water to cover and 1 dried gardenia pod (kuchinashi) tied in muslin. Boil for 15 minutes, until very soft when pierced.
15 minStep 3: Drain, discard the gardenia, and push the hot potato through a fine sieve with a spatula.
Step 4: Return the purée to the pan with 2 ⅛ oz sugar, 3 ½ tbsp water, 1 pinch salt and the syrup from 12 sweet chestnuts in syrup (kuri kanroni). Stir over a low heat for 8–10 minutes, until thick and glossy and a spatula drawn through leaves a clear trail.
10 minStep 5: Fold in the chestnuts and cook for 1 minute more. The mash firms as it cools, so take it off while still slightly soft.
1 minStep 6: Cool, then serve in small mounds. It keeps for 4 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 55 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kurikinton take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 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.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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