Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Prepare a charcoal fire on your BBQ grill. Propane could also be used, but the charcoal gives the nuts an additional smoky flavor. With a knife or a hand pruner garden tool, cut a ¼ inch deep slit on the flat side of each nut. This will allow the heated moisture to escape from inside the chestnut and will prevent them from exploding when heated on the fire.

Place the cut nuts in a metal pan such as a stainless steel wok or a cast iron skillet and place the pan on the grilling rack. While roasting, turn the nuts frequently with a metal spatula. Roasting the nuts will take about 20 minutes. When cooled the shells will become brittle and will be easy to peel with your fingers.

The nuts can also be roasted on a bonfire by using a long handled metal pan. The nuts will only take about 5-10 minutes to cook over a hot fire or coals and they must be turned frequently to prevent scorching of the shells and meat.

(Instructions developed by Ken Hunt and Julie Rhoads, UMCA)