Chestnuts. Where to buy?

Alf Stewart.

So, I'm hosting Christmas dinner this year for my lot and (some of) the outlaws.

14 of us in total.

Anyways, u have been reading about a chestnut/sprout dish, sauteed in butter. I have a friend who has been telling me it really is easy and delicious, but I don't know where to start looking for chestnuts.

I am in the North Kildare / South County Dublin area, so I have a good few Aldis/Tescos etc all close by, and I also have a fair amount of specialist fruit and vegetable stores close by (Avoca being one I drive past every day)

Haven't spotted any yet.

Hoping for some heads up.

Cheers.

vicwatson

Almost sure Lidl are selling them, in the fruit and veg area

Bananaleaf

vicwatson wrote: »

Almost sure Lidl are selling them, in the fruit and veg area

yes, they are

Cakerbaker

Tesco bray have them in the fruit and veg section.

Alf Stewart.

vicwatson wrote: »

Almost sure Lidl are selling them, in the fruit and veg area

Good stuff banana and Vic! Trial run tomorrow so!

MAJJ

Alf Stewart. wrote: »

Good stuff banana and Vic! Trial run tomorrow so!

Tesco Dundrum have them too

dudara

If all else fails, shops like Donnybrook fair will also carry pre cooked, vacuum packed chestnuts

endacl

You'll know they're done when the texture is kinda slimy, and the taste is kinda soapy. The perfect partner to sprouts, in fact.

B0jangles

As an aside, does anyone know a handy way of peeling cooked chestnuts that doesn't result in sore fingertips?

vicwatson

vicwatson wrote: »

Almost sure Lidl are selling them, in the fruit and veg area

Confirmed Selling them at €3.49 net bag

vicwatson

B0jangles wrote: »

As an aside, does anyone know a handy way of peeling cooked chestnuts that doesn't result in sore fingertips?

Roast them on a open fire whilst Jack Frost nips at your nose :P

Whistlejacket

B0jangles wrote: »

As an aside, does anyone know a handy way of peeling cooked chestnuts that doesn't result in sore fingertips?

Bribe someone else to do it by plying them with freshly baked goods/their favourite Christmas aperitif

Alf Stewart.

Thread update, got two bags from Tesco Monread, they're "raw" though, which means I will have to roast them myself.

Kinda was hoping for some cooked/peeled already, but I suppose half a loaf is better than no bread.

I'm headed up north to work for a bit, I'm staying right beside an Asda/Tesco and a M&S so maybe one of these might do them.

Cheers.

Cheshire Cat

Dunnes have cooked and peeled chestnuts in a vacuum pack. It's a French brand. Buy them every year for the goose stuffing and the sprouts. In my local Dunnes they are on the shelf with the prepacked salads.

Alf Stewart.

Cheshire Cat wrote: »

Dunnes have cooked and peeled chestnuts in a vacuum pack. It's a French brand. Buy them every year for the goose stuffing and the sprouts. In my local Dunnes they are on the shelf with the prepacked salads.

Thanks CC, there's a large dunnes quite close to our base, so ill pop in later.

Double thanks for pointing me towards their location, was getting lots of blank stares from Tesco staff when asking for them last night.

Cheshire Cat

This is what they look like:


http://www.rogerdescours.fr/marrons-cuits 2nd on the left

Supermarkets have a lot of temporary staff at this time of year, so I'm not surprised they don't know their way around.

Alf Stewart.

Cheshire Cat wrote: »

This is what they look like:


http://www.rogerdescours.fr/marrons-cuits 2nd on the left

Supermarkets have a lot of temporary staff at this time of year, so I'm not surprised they don't know their way around.

Thanks, I'm all sorted, got them exactly where you said that would be, in Dunnes.

Expensive lil buggers. €6 per pack. I picked up 5 of them.

Cheshire Cat

They are expensive alright. But by the time you have cooked and peeled the raw ones you have lost about half the weight of them and the will to live.
Your sanity at Christmas- priceless

lorrscann

Any idea where I would get them vacuum packed in the howth sutton baldoyle area? Tried Dunnes, Supervalue no joy

Alf Stewart.

Shredded the sprouts (food processor) then stir fried them in the wok with the chestnuts and a splash of dark soy sauce.

They were lovely. Big hit.

Day Lewin

B0jangles wrote: »

As an aside, does anyone know a handy way of peeling cooked chestnuts that doesn't result in sore fingertips?

No. I conscripted a family work-party to help out but it is still a pain in the neck. Or hand - high risk of gashing yourself, as well as the heat.
Had hunted for the tinned ones but couldn't find any.
It was my first time cooking chestnuts for a stuffing: husband found the fresh nuts at Tesco. But honestly, it's a lot of work and the finished product was fairly potato-ey, I doubt if I'd go to so much trouble again!