Chestnuts: An Unusual Holiday Ingredient That is NOT Pumpkin!

By Kelli Miles
Board President

Go ahead and sing the opening line of that famous Christmas song. I'll wait. Okay, now that you're feeling all warm and fuzzy, let's talk about pumpkin for a moment. Now, I have nothing against pumpkin. It is quite high in potassium and vitamins A and C and low in calories. It's a beautiful color and can be used to create both sweet and savory dishes. I even occasionally enjoy pumpkin spice in my coffee, pumpkin cheesecake, and my fall favorite, pumpkin spice pancakes. BUT... things have gone far enough. I draw the line at pumpkin spice cotton candy. Sorry to its fans but…no.

So, I got to thinking about how I could enjoy other holiday-related ingredients and still incorporate nutritious foods into my diet, and chestnuts came to mind. They are just as versatile as pumpkin, as chestnuts can be added to sweet and savory dishes, used to create a dessert, a side, or a main dish! Chestnuts are also high in potassium and provide a good satiety. They can be purchased at your local supermarket, even Target and Amazon, and come roasted or raw. Below are some chestnut recipes to try.

Won't you give chestnuts a chance this holiday season?

Soup and Side Dish

Chestnut Soup with Bacon and Chives
Chestnut Risotto with Butternut Squash

Main Dish

Chestnut And Mushroom Casserole With Allspice Butternut Squash Puree

Dessert

Chestnut Brownies
3-Ingredient Chestnut Puree With Whipped Coconut Cream