Are you ready to elevate your snacking game? Look no further than air fryer chestnuts, a tasty and nutritious treat that will leave your taste buds craving more. Grab your apron and let’s get air frying!
What Are Chestnuts?
Chestnuts are the edible fruit from the trees of the Castanea family. They produce these little nuts which we are so fond of at Christmas time. They can be eaten raw or cooked, but usually they get cooked before eaten. I love these little nuts and they have a delicate buttery sweet taste when cooked.
How To Prepare Chestnuts
- Score the chestnuts. Scoring the surface with an ‘X’ using a small paring knife is an important step as it prevents the chestnuts from bursting as they cook and allows any steam to escape.
- Soaking. Giving the chestnuts a good soak for 20 minutes before cooking is not essential but I find it goes a long way in helping to peel the papery skin from the chestnuts.
- Freshness. Look for lovely little plump and shiny chestnuts which show they are in their best condition and avoid any blemished or shriveled/discoloured nuts.
How To Roast Chestnuts In An Air Fryer
- Score your chestnuts with an ‘X’ on the round surface of the nut carefully using a paring knife. Try not to cut into the nut, just through the skin.
- Soak the nuts for 20 minutes
- Preheat your air fryer to 190°C
- Place the chestnuts in a single layer on the tray of your air fryer, scored side up
- Cook for around 10-15 minutes, until the shells peel away and the yellow nut is visible. Shake the basket of your air fryer halfway through to get an even cook and colour on the nuts and to apply any seasonings.
- Remove the nuts from the air fryer and let them cool for at least 5 minutes as they will be piping hot. Peel and enjoy!
Seasonings
- Try using dried herbs like rosemary or thyme. Sprinkle a little over the scored surface halfway through cooking and the shell begins to peel back so you can directly season the nut.
- Try a sweet and savoury glaze of melted butter and honey. Brush this glaze on each nut halfway through cooking for a flavourful twist
FAQ’s
This is a step I take as I feel it helps to make peeling the nuts easier after cooking. They can be difficult to peel otherwise.
If you are going to use chestnuts for a stuffing mix, roasting them gives the best flavour and texture. If you boil them they are smoother and creamier and suited to making a puree or jam.
Easy Air Fryer Chestnuts
Ingredients
- 400 g chestnuts
Instructions
- Begin by scoring each chestnut with a 'X' using a sharp paring knife, on the curved surface of the nut.
- Soak the scored chestnuts for 20 minutes
- Drain the chestnuts and place in a preheated air fryer at 190℃ for 10 minutes, shaking halfway through to get even cooking. Season once the shells begin to open halfway through.
- Once all the skins and shell peel back and you can see the yellow nut, they are cooked.
- Remove the nuts from the air fryer and let cool for at least 5 minutes before attempting to peel them – they are super hot!
