Chestnut Rice Recipes

CHESTNUT AND WILD RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Put the wild rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse it under cold running water, swishing the rice with your hands until the water runs clear. Transfer the rice to a medium bowl and add water to cover. Pour off any black bits or floating kernels, and then pour the rice back into the sieve to drain.
• Cook the rices separately: Combine the wild rice with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, cover tightly, reduce the heat to low and steam until the rice is tender and curling into a C shape, 20 to 25 minutes.
• At the same time, combine the basmati rice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 3/4 cups water in another small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, cover tightly, reduce the heat to low, and steam until the rice is tender, 25 minutes.
• Combine the rices in a large bowl and cover tightly.
• Cook the vegetable base: Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onion and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are limp but still bright, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme, and cook for 5 minutes.
• Pour the vegetables over the rice, scraping the pan for the juices, and stir to combine. Add the pistachios, chestnuts and parsley and mix thoroughly. Serve hot.

20 BEST WAYS TO USE CHESTNUTS

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a chestnut recipe in 30 minutes or less!

CHESTNUT RICE STUFFING

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, add onion and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Turn heat up to high and add ground beef. Cook until meat is browned well, stir in celery and cook 5 minutes longer. Stir in rice and turkey liver and cook 3 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients, season generously with salt and pepper.
• Your bird is ready to be stuffed!
• To prepare chestnuts: I do them in the pressure cooker. Rinse chestnuts and put them in the cooker. Add enough water to cover by a good 2 inches and throw in 2 tblsps salt (this will be drained off anyway- but gives the chestnuts better flavour). Boil for 5 minutes (after pressure starts). Turn off heat and leave on element 15 minutes longer. Drain.
• When cool enough to handle, cut off'nib' with a small, sharp knife and peel. Get the papery stuff off too. This is not so easy- some chestnuts peel easer than others, but they are so good and this is so totally worth it!
• If you don't have a pressure cooker, you can boil them in a regular pot for about 25 minutes.
• You could also use the vacuum-packed, cleaned chestnuts available, but I don't know if they'd be as tasty. I would guess that just over 1 lb of cleaned, cooked chestnuts would equal a 2 lb, uncleaned weight.

WILD RICE CHESTNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups water, rice and bouillon to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 50-60 minutes or until rice is tender., Meanwhile, with a small sharp knife, score an "X" on the flat side of each chestnut, being careful not to cut through the nutmeat. In a Dutch oven, bring the remaining water to a boil. Add chestnuts. Return to a boil; cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Drain and return chestnuts to the pan; cover and keep warm. With a kitchen towel or pot holder, remove one or two chestnuts at a time. Peel and discard outer shell and inner skin. Coarsely chop nutmeats. , Drain the wild rice. In a large skillet, saute celery and onion in butter until tender. Gently stir in the sage, salt, thyme, rice and nuts. Spoon into a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Cover and bake at 325° for 40-50 minutes or until heated through.