Chestnuts with Grapes
Notes: If using fresh chestnuts, cut an X through shell on flat side. Immerse in boiling water and simmer 10 minutes. Drain, and while nuts are warm and wet, pull off shell and dark membrane with a small knife. Serve with meats, the way you would potatoes.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
In a 5- to 6 quart pan, combine the chestnuts, 1 cup grapes, and 2 cups chicken broth. Remove sausage from casing and crumble into pan.
Step 2
2
Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, and simmer over medium heat until chestnuts are very soft and mash easily, about 30 minutes. Drain broth into a glass measure and add enough more broth to make 2 cups.
Step 3
3
Whirl chestnut mixture in a food processor until smoothly puréed, then whirl in enough broth to give mixture the consistency of softly mashed potatoes. Or whirl mixture, a portion at a time, in a blender, adding enough broth to facilitate puréeing, then more for the desired consistency. Chestnuts continue to thicken as they stand.
Step 4
4
Return purée to pan and stir over medium heat until steaming, 2 to 3 minutes; keep warm.
Step 5
5
In 10- to 12-inch frying pan over high heat, melt butter and add remaining grapes. Swirl just until fruit is warm and brighter green, about 1 1/2 minutes.
Step 6
6
Scrape chestnut purée into a deep bowl and pour grapes on top.
Ingredients
4 cups (about 1 1/3 lb.) peeled chestnuts
3 cups seedless green grapes
About 3 cups fat-skimmed chicken broth
1/4 pound Italian sausage
1 to 2 teaspoons butter or olive oil
Directions
Step 1
1
In a 5- to 6 quart pan, combine the chestnuts, 1 cup grapes, and 2 cups chicken broth. Remove sausage from casing and crumble into pan.
Step 2
2
Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, and simmer over medium heat until chestnuts are very soft and mash easily, about 30 minutes. Drain broth into a glass measure and add enough more broth to make 2 cups.
Step 3
3
Whirl chestnut mixture in a food processor until smoothly puréed, then whirl in enough broth to give mixture the consistency of softly mashed potatoes. Or whirl mixture, a portion at a time, in a blender, adding enough broth to facilitate puréeing, then more for the desired consistency. Chestnuts continue to thicken as they stand.
Step 4
4
Return purée to pan and stir over medium heat until steaming, 2 to 3 minutes; keep warm.
Step 5
5
In 10- to 12-inch frying pan over high heat, melt butter and add remaining grapes. Swirl just until fruit is warm and brighter green, about 1 1/2 minutes.
Step 6
6
Scrape chestnut purée into a deep bowl and pour grapes on top.
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