What Is Chestnut Puree??
Chestnuts are a bit like Michael Bublé.
They are absolutely everywhere over the Christmas period but as soon as the festive season is over, they return to their hiding place.
Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone eating a Chestnut in June.
But that’s is not what this article is about. This article is about Chestnut Purée.
“What is chestnut puree?” I hear you ask. Well, Chestnut Purée is made from ground or mashed chestnuts that have been combined with some form of liquid, usually water. The chestnuts are often roasted before being slowly blended until they are super smooth.
Chestnut Purée is often available in ready-to-go packets or tins but it can easily be made at home if you have an oven and a food processor.
Uses for Chestnut Puree
Chestnut Purée is an incredibly versatile, naturally sweet ingredient.
It can and is used in all sorts of dishes. Chestnut Puree adds a creamy depth to things like soups, stews, stuffings & sauces whilst being used as a sweet creamy filling in pastries like croissants.
In France, you will often find chestnut flavoured ice cream which uses chestnut puree as the base for its flavour. Or perhaps the famous crème de marrons, which is chestnut cream macaroons.
Perhaps the most famous dessert that best utilises the versatile chestnut puree is the again French, Mont Blanc. Getting its name from the highest mountain in the Alps, this dessert is made by piling a swirled mound of chestnut puree on top of meringue rounds. To give the mountain its snowy finish, whipped cream is then added.
If you find yourself at a loss one weekend, try making a Mont Blanc at home. It’s a fairly complicated dessert to make and it will likely take you all weekend to get right!
Chestnut Puree nutritional Facts
Now the nutritional facts for chestnut puree will differ from manufacture to manufacturer, but the typical values per 100g tend to be:
| Energy kJ/kcal | 217/52 |
| Fat | 1.1g |
| of which saturates | 0.2g |
| Carbohydrates | 8.5g |
| of which sugars | 1.9g |
| Fibre | 1.1g |
| Protein | 1.3g |
| Salt | 0.01g |
Remember, this is based on chestnut puree per 100g as sold.
What are the health benefits of Chestnuts?
There are 5 main health benefits of eating chestnuts:
- They are a great source of fibre. Just 10 chestnuts contain about 17% of your recommended fibre intake for the day.
- They have high levels of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is crucial for your immune system.
- High levels of copper. Again, about 10 chestnuts contain about 21% of the daily recommended amount of copper your body needs.
- Complex Carbohydrate levels. Chestnuts contain a high level of complex carbs that will work to keep you full for longer.
- Low saturated fat source. With just 0.2g of saturated fat per 100g, chestnut puree is very low in saturated fat.
What does chestnut puree taste like?
Chestnut Puree, funnily enough, tastes like chestnuts! Given that the puree is simply ground up chestnuts and water, it is not surprising that it packs the same flavour as the popular nut. The paste itself is velvety brown in colour and has a smooth texture to it.
Substitute for Chestnut Puree
Due to Chestnut puree’s low-fat content, there isn’t really a good enough substitute to replace it with, especially when using it in desserts or baking. If you do end up using hazelnut puree or something similar, your cake or dessert could end up being oily and undesirable.
For savoury dishes, like sauces, stews, etc, you could actually use hazelnut puree but it wouldn’t deliver the same, creamy depth of flavour that chestnut puree does.
Is Chestnut spread the same as chestnut puree?
Chestnut spread is simply sweetened chestnut puree. It can be used in the exact same was as Nutella or peanut butter and is quite popular in Europe.
Where can I buy Chestnut puree UK?
Chestnut puree is common in most UK supermarkets. We have taken a look and found that the below supermarkets are currently stocking Chestnut puree online and in their stores:
Merchant Gourmet Chestnut Puree
Amount: 200g
Price: £1
Merchant Gourmet Chestnut Puree
Amount: 200g
Price: £1.20
Merchant Gourmet Chestnut Puree
Amount: 200g
Price: £1.25
Merchant Gourmet Chestnut Puree
Amount: 200g
Price: £1.00
Amazon also has a selection of Chestnut Puree for you to choose from:
Amount: 600g (Pack of 3)
Price: £6.83
Amount: 250g
Price: £7.90
Amount: 300g
Price: £4.82
How long does chestnut puree keep?
Once opened, chestnut puree will last between 2 and 3 weeks when stored in the fridge. Make sure to seal the tin or package tightly to ensure no air can get into the container whilst in storage. This will help keep the chestnut puree fresh for as long as possible.
Can Chestnut puree be frozen?
Yes it can! You can freeze your chestnut puree for future use if you have any leftover when you are finished making whatever you are making. We’d recommend not freezing it for any longer than 4 months, however.
If possible, you might want to try and add a little sugar to the puree to help it last even longer when stored in the freezer.
Andy
Ever since I started cooking I’ve been fascinated by how different people’s techniques are and how they best utilise the ingredients around them. Even the person living next door will have their own unique way of frying an egg or cooking a salmon fillet.
This fascination led me on a journey across the globe to discover the countless practices and traditions the world of cooking has to offer. I thought you’d enjoy and find value in sharing that journey with me so I created Cooked Best!