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[ps2id id='anchor1' target=''/]Why are organic chestnuts better than regular ones?

Any type of fruit, vegetable, or nut will always be much better if it is organic essentially because it is more natural. Our bodies are not made to consume highly processed products in factories to prevent them from spoiling when they should. If a natural product like chestnuts or any fruit or vegetable is not consumed during its proper season, that is, the date when it should naturally be harvested and consumed, it is because they have artificially modified the cycles of that fruit. And if you also notice that the fruit lasts without spoiling for longer than normal, it is because they have been treated with chemicals that are not suitable for human consumption in high volume. Can you imagine that for every product you consume, there is a small portion that is directly "poison" for your body if you consume it in a higher quantity? Well, that's what happens today. That is why at Los Conventos brand, we always recommend consuming the most natural products because the most natural products are usually the healthiest.

Chestnuts and autumn, an inseparable pair.

There are many products that we can associate with autumn, but few awaken as much nostalgia as chestnuts. They are almost an icon of this bucolic season, when forests are painted with colors and the ground is filled with leaves, mushrooms, and these unmistakable fruits that have been so important for centuries in the economy and culture of many regions of our country.

This is how chestnuts are cooked.

The aroma of roasted chestnuts has something magical and comforting, but they can be used in cooking in many other ways. When cooking them, it is preferable to choose chestnuts of a similar size or caliber so that they all cook evenly. The more rounded ones will be easier to peel, while the very flat ones will make it more difficult. For roasting chestnuts at home, it is ideal to use a typical "chestnut" pan with holes, which can be used over firewood, embers, or, if adapted, the stove flame. They can also be roasted in the oven or microwave, but in all cases, a preliminary cut must be made to prevent them from exploding and facilitate subsequent peeling.

The cut can be a cross or a simple line that goes through the outer bark and the inner skin, using a sharp or serrated knife. In the oven, they will be ready in about 20 minutes, preheated to 200ºC, depending on the size and power of the appliance. To cook them in the microwave, you need to find the right timing depending on the device, but usually, 2 and a half minutes at 800W is enough. Keep an eye on them because they can explode or generate a lot of steam if the power is excessive.

To cook with them and for other preparations, another option is to boil them in boiling water for about 10-20 minutes, depending on the size and the desired texture. Always remember the preliminary cut and control the interior texture. Once semi-cooked and peeled, they can be further cooked in milk, syrup, or sugar, or used for savory dishes like meat fillings and garnishes, rice dishes, vegetable creams, legume stews, soups, or stir-fries.

In the culinary world, they can be incorporated already cooked or roasted just like any other nut, whole or chopped, in cake batters, cookies, muffins, or tarts. They can be ground to almost flour-like consistency or used to make sweet creams, for example, with chocolate, or spoon desserts like custards, panna cotta, or puddings. Sweet chestnut cream is a delicious preserve, as well as chestnuts in syrup.

If we still crave chestnuts out of season, in the market, we can find them cooked in natural preserves, frozen, dried, or in various sweet preparations, including jams and different desserts. Additionally, chestnut flour is a delightful and aromatic ingredient to experiment with in our bakery and pastry recipes, especially when combined with chocolate and other nuts.