Chestnuts are the fruits of a tree from the beech family, and they germinate in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, or more precisely, in southern Bulgaria and northern Greece. At the moment, this nut can be found in North America, Europe and Asia. Chestnut trees prefer a subtropical climate, and if we talk about the decorative look, it can grow anywhere in the world. There are two types of chestnuts, one of which is horse-drawn or, in other words, a stomach, and the other is real, noble and can be eaten. Chestnuts can be poisonous and unsuitable for eating, and this is horse-drawn, however, for medicinal purposes it is very useful.

Edible chestnuts: benefit and harm

Edible chestnuts can be eaten, and distinguishing them from poisonous fruits is not at all difficult. The appearance of fruitful boxes of noble chestnut is densely covered with many small needles, and often resembles hedgehogs. In each box there are several small nuts, each of which has pointed tops.

Edible chestnut is very healthy and can be consumed as an ingredient in dishes such as:

• Salad;
• Biscuits;
• Soups;
• Snacks
• Flour, which is significantly superior to wheat.

Raw nuts can also be eaten while benefiting. To taste, such fruits can resemble potatoes, and their usefulness lies in the fact that they have vitamins such as A, C, B, and also there are components of starch, protein, sugar, enzymes and fats. The peculiarity of chestnuts is that they have a short shelf life, and if you do not comply with the conditions, then such properties as benefits will be lost. It is best to use the fruits in the fall. It is edible chestnut that is considered very favorable for the human body.

They are useful in that they contribute to:

• Accelerate the treatment of atherosclerosis;
• Increasing vascular elasticity and improving blood circulation;
• Thrombophlebitis removal;
• Trophic ulcer removal;
• Removing hemorrhoidal inflammation.

Raw chestnuts are also good for health, and they are great for treating diarrhea, as well as malaria fever. Roasted chestnuts are used to stop bleeding.

What are the benefits of chestnuts for pregnant women?

Chestnuts are also useful during pregnancy, but on condition that they are properly cooked.

Use them in medicine:

• Folk;
• Scientific;
• In the form of components of various drugs.

The plant and its fruits have vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and carbohydrates. The product has a very high calorie content, and therefore it can be harmful to those who are obese. Ripened fruits are more beneficial relative to early nuts.

Chestnut foliage is considered no less useful, as it contains:

• Pectin;
• Glycosides;
• Routine;
• Flavonoid compounds;
• Tannins.

Proper preparation of chestnuts allows you to create a cold-water infusion that copes with ARVI of any complexity. Before use, both the foliage and the nuts themselves must be thoroughly dried. Fresh foliage is used to create a decoction against whooping cough, and if you make a decoction based on the bark of a tree, it will become an excellent assistant for treating kidney and gastrointestinal problems. Including it is used to heal wounds and abscesses.

Edible chestnut, regardless of whether it is from a store or collected directly from a tree, can overcome diseases such as dysentery and cystitis.

Each part of the tree is used in a special way and can be used to create: creams, ointments, lotions. Even the flowers of the plant are used in medicine, as they are an excellent antipyretic. They need to be collected at the very beginning, and then juice is squeezed out of them and diluted with water with a calculation of 30/1. This infusion is used to treat wounds and sore spots. Chestnuts are very useful for those who suffer from menstruation, and honey from this product has antimicrobial properties.

How to eat chestnuts

Most often, they do not use boiled, but baked chestnuts cooked on charcoal. This recipe is far from the only one, since you can stuff the bird with chestnuts, diversify pilaf, soup, bread and even dessert. It is easy to cook at home.

To make baked chestnuts you need:

• Cut off the tips, so that the fruits do not crack;
• Put them in a preheated oven;
• Peel before serving and add butter.

To prepare a chestnut dessert you need: mix the chestnuts from preservation and brandy until mashed, add whipped cream and meringue, broken into pieces, pour hot chocolate. Raw chestnuts can also be consumed as food, but they are mainly used to make flour or coffee. Chestnuts are harvested in spring, and dried in a ventilated room. If foliage is required, it is better to choose the period from May, which will allow them to be more thoroughly dried, but it will be necessary to lay them out in a thin layer and in a well-ventilated room.

Flowers are harvested from May to June, and storage should be carried out in a closed container, but not more than a year. Chestnuts should be picked exclusively in the fall, when they reach full maturity, and for storage you need to choose a cool place. Freezing chestnuts can be stored up to six months, and packaged in containers or plastic bags.

What kind of chestnuts can be eaten by pregnant women

What kind of chestnuts can pregnant women eat? As already mentioned, there are 2 types of chestnuts, one of which can be eaten, and the second is strictly prohibited.

A noble-looking nut has:

• Flattened rounded shape;
• Flat shape;
• Dark brown shell;
• White and large core;
• Sweet flesh.

Before use in food, it is advisable to cook or fry the fruits, but only by piercing the shell, otherwise they can explode. The taste of roasted chestnut can resemble the most ordinary potatoes, and it can also be used raw, which is done in the confectionery industry. Finely chopped chestnuts are considered a great addition to coffee.

The use of chestnut

Despite the fact that the noble chestnut has excellent taste, horse chestnuts are used for medicinal purposes and in cosmetology. It is strictly forbidden to consume it in food, since it is poisonous, but medicine is the area in which various methods of application have been found.

Horse chestnut was so named not just, but precisely because it favorably affects the health of the horse, which was noted at the beginning of the 16th century.

A little later, the component began to be used to treat a person, but only after consulting a doctor and in limited quantities. The secret of the benefits of this product in the presence of substances such as: eculin and escin.

These substances contribute to:

• Decrease in blood coagulability;
• Dissolution of the formed blood clots;
• Removal of edema;
• Elimination of wounds and ulcers, as they have anti-inflammatory properties.

In pharmacology of the 21st century, chestnut fruit extract is often used to prepare an anti-varicose ointment, and tablets, drops and injections are also made from it, which are used to treat problems of the cardiovascular system. In medicine, not only the horse chestnut fruit is used, but also bark, foliage, and sometimes roots, but it is very difficult to get them. Bark and foliage, or more precisely, a decoction of them is used in the treatment of: bronchitis, pneumonia, anemia, any bleeding, diseases in the gallbladder cavity, liver problems, disorders of the spleen, in cases where an anti-inflammatory effect is required .

Roasted chestnuts: benefits and harms

The main benefit of chestnuts is in the foliage, which has a mass of useful substances. If you correctly follow the recipe and prepare a decoction from them, then you can do: wound healing, hemostatic, anti-burn. Fresh chestnuts are simply incredibly useful to the cores and those who have severe varicose veins, including during pregnancy.

Fruits and bark are used to treat the gastrointestinal tract, in particular with:

• Constipation;
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn;
• Ulcer;
• Gastrit and not only.

Decoctions of parts of a tree called chestnut can be used both internally and as compresses. If there is such a problem as boils, as well as similar inflammations, then this is an excellent option, but do not overdo it so as not only not to cause the opposite effect, but also a strong allergic reaction in the form of Quincke's edema. Mostly in the form of side effects, redness of the skin is noted with external use, as well as the manifestation of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea when taken orally. Since chestnut significantly increases the coagulation of blood fluid, the product is used with caution and only after consulting with specialists.

Inedible chestnut consumption can lead to poisoning and even death.

It is worth noting that roasted chestnuts do not lose their beneficial properties, however, it is not advisable to store them for a long time, even in the refrigerator. It is better to cook immediately such a portion that will definitely be consumed.

Is it possible for pregnant women to have chestnuts: benefits and harms (video)

In general, chestnut is a quite useful product that can be used by both children and adults, as well as old people, pregnant women and just all people, subject to the consumption dosages.

Chestnut tree pleases us with its beautiful flowers, openwork leaves and healthy fruits - nuts. There are two main types of chestnut: horse and sweet chestnut. The fruits of horse chestnut are inedible and are used in pharmacology. We often see horse chestnut on city boulevards and in parks. Sweet chestnut walnut is a gourmet product that is rich in nutrients and used in cooking to prepare gourmet dishes. Sweet chestnut grows in the USA, Asia and the southern regions of Europe. Today, chestnut edible nuts can be bought at any supermarket.

Discovery story

One ancient legend says that the beautiful nymph Ney, avoiding the excessive attention of the loving Jupiter, committed suicide. The young man turned the nymph into a tree with prickly fruits and called him “Casta”, which means “virgin”. After a while, the tree was called chestnut.

In ancient Rome, chestnut nuts were used in cooking. Roasted nuts on bonfires and served as a delicious and fragrant dessert. In Japan and China, chestnut fruits began to be cultivated before rice. They were prepared with meat products and vegetables or used as a snack for alcoholic beverages.

Alexander the Great often took the nutritious fruits of chestnut on long military campaigns. Nuts perfectly restored the strength of the soldiers and helped them cope with many diseases. By order of the legendary commander, chestnut groves were planted.

Types of Edible Chestnuts

Currently, there are about 30 species of chestnut trees, the fruits of which can be eaten. The following chestnuts are the most popular among consumers:

1. European sowing chestnut. The nuts of this chestnut are covered with a round fluffy shell that resembles a cocoon. The fruits of the planting chestnut are large in size and have excellent taste.
2. Chinese chestnut is the softest. The fruits of this chestnut differ in average size and high taste. Chinese chestnut nuts do not need additional heat treatment before use.
3. Japanese chestnut. This type of edible chestnut is considered the largest. The chestnut nut reaches a diameter of 6 cm, and its weight is about 80 grams.

Walnut composition

Chestnut fruits have a unique chemical composition. It contains vitamins, carbohydrates, styrenes, essential oils and other compounds.

Calorie content

Despite the fact that chestnuts are direct relatives of nuts, they are still less caloric. 100 g of chestnut nuts contains 131 kcal.

The nutritional value

The composition of chestnut nuts includes a minimum amount of fat, so this product can be included in the diet for people who seek to normalize excess body weight. The fruits of the chestnut are rich in fiber, carbohydrates, proteins and other organic compounds that are important for human health.

Useful Compounds

Chestnuts are saturated with B vitamins, vitamin A, C and PP.

The composition of this product includes minerals valuable to human health. Especially in the fruits of chestnut iron, potassium and phosphorus.

Cooking

Chestnut fruits do not require long cooking. They can be baked in the oven or boiled. Before preparing nuts in the oven, prick each fruit with a fork. Then bake for about 15 minutes in a preheated oven. Remember that overcooked chestnuts become hard and their taste is reduced.

To cook chestnuts, dip the fruits for 2 minutes in boiling water. Next, carefully clean them from partitions and peels. Then put the peeled chestnuts in a container of cold water and cook for 15 minutes until soft.

Chestnut nuts are great with vegetables, meat products and various sauces. This product can be added to desserts and pastries. The daily rate of chestnut is 40 grams.

Useful properties and application

The benefits of chestnut nuts are its valuable composition. This product has anti-inflammatory, wound healing and astringent effects on the body. Chestnut nuts have the following healing properties:

• accelerate blood flow;
• strengthen capillaries;
• increase muscle tone;
• relieve fatigue;
• normalize pressure;
• reduce swelling;
• activate the brain;
• improve blood composition.

In folk medicine, a decoction of the fruits of chestnuts is used to treat:

• liver disease;
• bronchitis;
• whooping cough;
• joint rheumatism;
• varicose veins;
• atherosclerosis;
• thrombophlebitis;
• hemorrhoids;
• chronic diarrhea;
• gynecological pathologies that are associated with circulatory disorders of the pelvis.

To prepare a healing broth, grind 5 grams of chestnut fruits, place them in a container and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Then put the container in a water bath and bring the broth to the boiling point. Strain the resulting broth carefully, and bring its volume to 200 ml.

The beneficial properties of chestnut explain its widespread use in cosmetology. The extract of this product is included in creams for oily and normal skin, as well as in the composition of nourishing masks, bath foams and shampoos.

The healing properties of chestnut oil

Chestnut oil contains tocopherols, vitamins, flavonoids, organic acids, sterols and other valuable compounds. This product has tonic, decongestant, astringent and anti-aging properties. Chestnut oil is used for:

• restoration of the subcutaneous fat layer;
• improving the general condition of the skin;
• skin cell regeneration;
• smoothing small wrinkles;
• reduce swelling;
• activation of blood circulation.

How to choose and store

Quality chestnut fruits have a rounded shape and a flat surface without traces of mold. Fresh chestnut nuts are stored in an airtight container for no more than 14 days in the refrigerator. In the freezer, this product retains its life-giving properties for 6 months.

Contraindications and harm

Nutritionists do not recommend consuming chestnut fruit if you have:

• diabetes;
• tendency to allergies;
• renal failure.

Future and lactating mothers should not include this product in their diet.

The benefits and harms of chestnut are not yet fully understood by nutritionists. Excessive consumption of chestnut can provoke constipation and digestive upset in a person.

Sometimes people use horse chestnut nut, which is inedible, for cooking. As a result of such experiments, severe poisoning develops.

According to statistics, Chinese people eat more than 40% of the total world harvest of chestnuts. In China, chestnut fruits are used not only to prepare delicious dishes, but also to improve the quality of pet meat. Aromatic dry sausages made from pig meat, which were fed with chestnuts, are considered a special delicacy.

A bright event is annually held in the cities of France - the Chestnut Festival. On this day, the fruits of chestnuts are massively fried in city squares, using large pans.

In Corsica, locals also love chestnut nuts. Traditionally, the bride's family at the wedding celebration should offer guests to try at least 20 chestnut dishes.

Chestnuts are the fruits of a beech family plant and are nuts with a low calorie content because they contain less fat than other nuts.

But they differ not only in this, they are rich in irreplaceable nutrients.

They are very rich in starch, which makes them look more like than the rest of the nuts. In addition, they contain a lot of fiber.

One hundred grams of chestnuts give 165 kcal and only two grams of fat.

You will be amazed at the result if you include chestnuts in your diet, there are good reasons for this.

Chestnuts during pregnancy

Benefit

Eating chestnuts is suitable for almost everyone, and especially recommended for people who suffer from stress or. It is also beneficial to eat chestnuts during lactation and pregnancy.

They are suitable for people with liver disease and those who suffer from high blood pressure and watch for low salt intake.

Chestnut is a very healthy product and is suitable for people of any age, with the exception of people who suffer from diabetes.

The combination of trace elements makes this nut an ideal “antidote” against fatigue.

In particular, they help improve blood circulation and regulate blood pressure.

Here are the benefits of using chestnuts:

• thanks to vitamin B2 they reduce the effects of skin aging;

• strengthens bones and teeth due to the high phosphorus content;

• prevents due to the presence of an amino acid such as tryptophan;

• protect the nervous system with its high content of vitamin B and phosphorus;

• vitamin B2 also has a positive effect on eye health;

• high fiber content helps digestion;

• they are recommended for kidney diseases, due to the high potassium content;

• contribute to improving memory;

• good for hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Harm

Chestnuts are rich in carbohydrates, so they are not recommended for those suffering from. Also, they should be used with caution for overweight people.

Indications

Indications for eating chestnuts are:

• stress, depression;
• pregnancy, breastfeeding;
• cardiovascular problems;
• memory problems
• physical fatigue;
• as an anti-inflammatory agent;
• as a tonic and restorative.

Chestnuts are rich, which affects the increase in breast milk in women.

Chestnut contains a lot of protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and vitamins.that can regulate blood flow, stimulate the kidneys and provide the body with energy and nutrients.

Therefore, chestnuts can be considered as part of the diet during pregnancy and lactation.

Contraindications

A chestnut does not have many contraindications. Them not recommended for nutrition of people diagnosed with diabetes, in this case, experts advise against chestnuts, as they are very rich in carbohydrates.

Should also avoid chestnuts in cases of indigestion, because they can cause bloating, especially when consumed raw.

Ways to use

Oven-baked chestnuts in charcoal or grill. So that the shell does not burst the chestnuts, it must be incised. Chestnuts prepared in this way can replace part of the baking.

Boiled chestnuts. A great side dish for any kind of red meat, poultry or roast beef.

For cooking, chestnuts are boiled in water with a small amount of anise, or in milk with the addition of cinnamon or vanilla to taste. Also boiled chestnuts can be served in the form of mashed potatoes.

Raw chestnuts. It can be consumed only when fully ripened.

Candied fruit. They are used to make cakes and candied chestnuts in the glaze. To prepare this French dessert, the chestnuts are peeled, soaked in sugar syrup and coated with glaze.

Chestnut Flour  used for baking.

Precautionary measures

You should use chestnuts with caution, if your body is not used to such foods, they can cause an allergic reaction.

In addition, the use of a large number of chestnuts can adversely affect the functions of the pancreas.

If you tend to be overweight, keep in mind that chestnuts are rich in carbohydrates.

Be careful and do not confuse edible chestnut with horse. Raw horse chestnuts can lead to poisoning.

Chestnuts are a good product that should be introduced into the diet. They have many useful properties, and not many contraindications. They can and should be consumed during pregnancy.

Good day, dear readers!

Have any of you tried edible chestnuts? If you traveled through the hot countries of Europe, were in Asia, or at least in the Caucasus, you probably did not deny yourself the pleasure of enjoying these fruits.

Even before our era, nuts were grown in ancient Rome, Japan and China. Today they can be purchased in large supermarkets, although they are not cheap. If you like chestnut nuts, the benefits and harms of them should be known to you. Let's talk about it today.

Even Alexander the Great noticed the healing properties of these fruits and ordered to plant whole groves of trees. What attracted the great commander in them?

There are a lot of potassium and copper in chestnut nuts, which is extremely beneficial for the work of the heart. They have slightly less iron and phosphorus, but this amount is enough for nuts to be used to treat anemia and improve brain function. In addition, they have many vitamins C, PP, A, B.

Useful properties of chestnut

Among the useful properties include:

• anti-inflammatory (eat a decoction of leaves or fruits);
• vasoconstrictor (dilate arteries, strengthen the walls of capillaries, dissolve blood clots);
• astringent, wound healing (fruit infusion is used in the treatment of the gall bladder, rheumatism, external wounds, digestive disorders);
• increases tone and gives energy to the body.

Beautiful ladies can safely include nuts in their diet, as they have a low calorie content. In cosmetology, shampoos, hair masks, foot creams, ointments for sprains and bruises are prepared from them.

Who is harmful to use chestnut nuts?

• if there is an individual intolerance to the product;
• with kidney disease;
• during pregnancy and lactation (chestnut can cause bloating, which is extremely undesirable in a given period of a woman’s life);
• with diabetes (nuts contain carbohydrates, which can trigger an increase in blood glucose).

How to cook chestnut nuts

Roasted chestnuts are a real delicacy. To taste, they resemble potatoes. Their preparation does not take much time. Here is a good recipe that is easy to cook on a campfire for a picnic:

1. Do not peel the chestnut peel!
2. Put the fruits in an open fire.
3. Fry for 10-15 minutes over high heat, stirring constantly.
4. Serve hot, peeling.

Knowing how to roast chestnuts in a pan, you can cook a delicious delicacy at home.

Chestnut Nuts Treat

1. Pre-pierce the peel of nuts in depth by a third, so that in the process of frying the juice comes out of the fruit.
2. Immerse nuts in a pan and cover with moistened napkins.
3. Simmer for 20 minutes, covered with a lid.
4. In the process of preparation, dried napkins should be moistened again, and the nuts themselves mixed.
5. Peel the prepared chestnuts, salt (or add other ingredients) and serve.

Heat treatment gives the fruit an exquisite taste and makes cleaning easier. However, many of you are probably interested in the question, is it possible to eat chestnut nuts in raw form? Can.

To do this, remove the peel and film, but it will be quite difficult to do this. So it is better not to be too lazy and cook or fry the fruits.

What else can you cook?

To make various dishes from chestnuts, it is necessary to heat them:

• You need to boil the fruits in boiling water for 2 minutes. Then dip them in a bowl of cold water and cook for another quarter of an hour.
• To bake them in the oven, you need to prune the peeled nuts with a fork and place in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Chestnuts go well with vegetables and various desserts. In order not to overeat and get all the substances necessary for the body, it is enough to consume 40 g of nuts per day.

From edible chestnuts you can cook not only various dishes, but also medicines. So, for medicinal purposes, you can make a decoction of fruits:

1. 5 g of peeled nuts pour a glass of boiling water.
2. Put the fruits in a water bath and, bringing to a boil, immediately remove from heat.
3. Strain the broth and consume throughout the day.

Now we know exactly what the benefits and harms of chestnut nuts are, how to cook them correctly and whether they can be eaten raw.

I hope you have a good moment in life when you can enjoy overseas chestnuts. The delicacy is worth it!

Some twenty or thirty years ago in a Slavic country they did not even hear about such an original dish as edible chestnuts, not even trying or cooking in their own kitchen. But the amazing diversity of national traditions in our time is becoming publicly available. Someone tries Parisian chestnuts in a restaurant during a tourist trip, someone searches for such delicacies in the institutions of their country, and someone even decides to cook such a dish on their own. Let's look at the usefulness of such a dessert, the rules for its preparation and use.

The fruits of the chestnut tree have become a peculiar hallmark of Paris, because there just on the streets you can find sellers roasting chestnuts in pans. The aroma that spreads around it, intoxicates and enchants.

This smell, reminiscent of the aroma of freshly baked homemade bread, creates a unique atmosphere of comfort in the open. And after tasting such a dessert, it is difficult to deny yourself another serving.

Did you know? This little-known food in our country was popular long before the beginning of our era. For example, in ancient Rome, such a delicacy was served as a dessert for the upper classes and privileged persons. Alexander the Great, during a long trip to the East, used chestnuts as a satisfying and nutritious substitute for conventional provisions, so his army was able to advance so far.

Traditional nuts, soups, soufflés are prepared from these nuts, they are crushed into flour and bread, sweets and all kinds of pastries are prepared. The fruits of the chestnut tree are also served with meat dishes, with asparagus and scallops, added to the mousse with and much more.

On cool autumn evenings, chestnuts are an ideal accompaniment to mulled wine, and in a cafe chestnut desserts are perfectly combined with Norman cider.

The tradition of selling roasted nuts on the street is characteristic not only of French cities, but also of Italian or Turkish. However, only in Paris there is a special holiday dedicated specifically to chestnuts. The holiday is accompanied by street festivities, songs, contests and performances by amateur theaters.

Someone has probably already thought about the fact that chestnut trees grow in his yard or somewhere nearby, so that you can now pick their fruits and start cooking. But do not rush to conclusions, because far from all chestnuts are suitable for eating. For example, the one that grows in your yard belongs to the type of horse chestnut, and people don’t eat it.

This is a feed type of fruit given to horses and cattle. For man, there are sown forms of a chestnut tree.
  The allowed varieties of chestnuts include:

• european sowing;
• small town;
• chinese (softest);
• asia Minor (grows in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Krasnodar Territory).

All other types of chestnut nuts are unsuitable for this.

There are several basic rules for distinguishing between edible and inedible fruits of a chestnut tree. To distinguish horse chestnut from edible for humans, you can focus on the following points:

1. The difference in shape and size of the sheet. Edible chestnut has a more rounded leaf shape, without nicks and uneven edges.
2. Differences in the shape of inflorescences. In edible species, inflorescences are flatter, and in equines they are elongated, resembling a Christmas tree in shape.
3. Taste of ripened fruits. Horse chestnut tastes bitter, the seed variety is a bit sweet.
4. Horse chestnut only has one fruit inside the cuppus(green amniotic box), two nuts are less common.
5. The horse chestnut plyus is bright green, there are small tubercles on it. The sowing variety is distinguished by the presence of long spikes and the brown color of the bun.

Both of these varieties are united by only one: their fruits are similar in dark brown color and smooth surface with a small brightened speck.

We study the composition

An important point for understanding the value and usefulness of these fruits for the human body is the content of micronutrients, minerals and vitamins.

It should be noted right away that chestnuts are a subspecies of nuts, and therefore their composition is very similar. Chestnut fruits are rich in starch, plant fiber, a variety of mineral compounds and amino acids. They also contain folic acid, which is indispensable for our body.
  Also here are sucrose, glucose and fructose, vitamins A and E, as well as the entire line of B vitamins.

In addition, chestnut nuts contain many micro and macro elements. Of particular note is the presence of:

• gland;
• potassium;
• sodium;
• phosphorus;
• calcium
• copper;
• magnesium.

This product is quite high in calories, as there are 180 calories in 100 grams of nuts. At the same time, more than 60% of the product is occupied by energetically valuable carbohydrates, more than 30% is allocated to proteins and fiber, and less than 10% remains on fats.
  These nuts are the least greasy, so they are often included in their daily diet by vegetarians and people who monitor their weight. At the same time, the fruits of the chestnut tree are very nutritious and nutritious, satisfy hunger for a long time and are not stored in problem areas. And the fats in them are only saturated, and they are quickly processed by the body.

Chestnuts can also be eaten raw, that is, simply from a tree. But first you need to peel the peel and glossy film from the fruit. This process is quite time-consuming, so it will be much easier to prepare them. There are many recipes in this regard, and you will definitely find something to your liking.

In addition, raw fruits do not have that amazing and alluring aroma, and therefore you will not get special, memorable impressions from such a dish.

How to make a tasty treat

After a little work in the kitchen, you will get a dish with a special taste that will not leave anyone indifferent, and your home will be filled with pleasant and romantic aromas of Paris itself. Below we have given several basic options for preparing chestnut tree fruits.

Roasted chestnuts

For this dish you need:

• wooden plank;
• spatula or spoon for turning chestnuts;
• a frying pan with a lid (old is best, as brown nuts leave indelible stains and often burn).

Important! On the electric stove it will not be possible to roast chestnuts correctly. For best cooking, you need an open fire, or at least a gas oven.

Oil, salt and any other ingredients and tools will not be needed.

Essential Ingredients

Edible chestnuts (as much as fits in your pan).

Step by step recipe

1. Wash nuts thoroughly.
2. Each fruit must be incised, but not until the end, but approximately to the middle. So your nuts cook faster.
3. Now put the nuts in the pan, flat side down.
4. We fry for five minutes on fire, covering the pan with a lid so that the fruits do not dry.
5. Turn nuts over. By this moment, they will already be revealed. If the flat side of the fetus is blackened, then you need to reduce the fire. Next, loosely close the toasted nuts with a lid and simmer for another ten minutes.
6. Next, it is worthwhile to stir the fruits again and rearrange them on the small burner of the gas stove, or reduce the fire even more.
7. In this mode, the fruits should spend another fifteen minutes in a pan, after which they can be laid out on a plate.
8. Wait until the nuts have cooled, and then proceed to clean them from the burnt peel.

It is best to eat chestnuts immediately after cleaning, while they are still warm. When they cool completely, the taste is slightly faded.

Boiled chestnuts

The difference between this cooking method and the previous one is that during cooking the chestnuts do not explode, and therefore it is not necessary to make punctures or incisions.

Essential Ingredients

Edible chestnuts and water.

Step by step recipe

1. Fill the chestnut tree with water. Those that pop up are not usable. They should be deleted.
2. Pour the fruit into the pan and fill it with water so that the water completely covers them.
3. After boiling, cook for twenty minutes, then drain the remaining water and soak for another five minutes in a saucepan with the lid closed.
4. Next, put the nuts on a plate and, after a little cooling, peel them. Do not delay with cleaning, since it will be more difficult to remove the peel when completely cooled.
5. Such nuts can be added to soups and soufflés, stuffed with poultry, or even mashed from them. To do this, add milk and butter to the nut mass, just like for mashed potatoes. In general, a chestnut has much in common with potatoes, including taste.

Baked products

The third universal way to cook chestnuts is baking. This recipe is one of the fastest.

Did you know? In ancient Greece, on the streets of many cities one could meet whole groves of chestnuts, thanks to which the inhabitants were saved from hunger during the many wars, accompanied by sieges. The first trees planted by the Greeks in the colonial cities on the Black Sea were chestnuts.

Essential Ingredients

Edible chestnuts and parchment.

Step by step recipe

1. First, wash and dry the fruits of the chestnut tree on a towel.
2. Make a cross-shaped incision on the convex side of the fruit. If this is not done, they may explode.
3. Arrange the nuts with cuts up (flat side down) on the baking sheet, after covering the bottom with parchment paper.
4. Bake at 200 ° C for 15-17 minutes.
5. Put the finished nuts on a plate and peel.

Is it possible chestnuts

Let's find out what is the situation with pregnant, lactating women, infants and children, because they too will want to enjoy all the delights of the delicacy.

Pregnant and lactating

These fruits are advised to be used by people with a depressed state, under stress and overload, as well as with exhaustion of the body. It is in a situation of depletion of trace elements and vitamins that all pregnant and lactating women are, since part of the resources of their body goes to the child.

Therefore, it’s not only possible to eat chestnuts, but also for all pregnant and lactating women - these nuts are rich in many vital compounds, including folic acid, which affects the increase in breast milk.

They also have a low calorie content, which is important because during pregnancy women often gain extra pounds. The fruits of the chestnut tree are completely harmless from this point of view.

Important! The potassium content makes chestnuts a good tool to prevent hypertension, eliminate the risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, anemia (anemia). In particular, they help improve blood circulation and regulate blood pressure.

More facts about the beneficial properties of chestnuts:

• thanks to vitamin B2, the effects of skin aging are reduced; it also has a positive effect on eye health;
• bones and teeth are strengthened due to the high content of phosphorus;
• insomnia is prevented due to the presence of an amino acid such as tryptophan;
• nuts protect the nervous system due to the high content of vitamin B and phosphorus;
• high fiber helps digestion;
• chestnuts are recommended for kidney diseases, due to the high potassium content;
• contribute to improving memory;
• good for hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Breasts are not recommended to start complementary foods with chestnuts, as this will be too heavy a product for their still fragile stomachs. It is worth remembering that up to six months the baby’s body is fully supplied with all the necessary trace elements and vitamins from mother’s milk.
  Therefore, it is possible to introduce chestnuts into the child’s diet only from the age of one, and preferably from three years old, when the stomach is already able to perceive and digest such food.