Air Fryer Roasted Chestnuts
Air fryer chestnuts are a quick and practical way to enjoy this quintessential autumn snack. They come out perfectly roasted with crispy shells and soft, sweet interiors.
📖 The Story
In Portugal, roasted chestnuts are a deeply rooted tradition tied to Saint Martin's Day celebrations on November 11th. On this day, Portuguese people gather to eat roasted chestnuts and drink água-pé (young wine) or jeropiga (sweet fortified wine), celebrating the end of the grape harvest. Street vendors known as 'castanheiras' are iconic figures in Portuguese autumn streets, with their steaming carts roasting chestnuts over hot coals. The air fryer offers a modern and practical alternative to recreate this traditional flavor at home.
🧺 Ingredients
- 500g chestnuts
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash the chestnuts thoroughly under running water.
- 2
Make a lateral cut in each chestnut, piercing the shell but not cutting through the fruit.
- 3
Place the chestnuts in a bowl and cover with hot water.
- 4
Add half of the coarse salt and let rest for 20 minutes.
- 5
Drain the water and arrange the chestnuts in the air fryer basket without overlapping.
- 6
Season with the remaining coarse salt.
- 7
Roast in the air fryer at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes, shaking the basket after 10 minutes.
- 8
Serve hot, wrapped in a cloth to keep warm.