Dried chestnuts are available from health food shops and when reconstituted, by soaking in water, they can be cooked and used in the same way as fresh chestnuts. Home-frozen peeled chestnuts taste identical to the fresh variety and are well worth storing in the freezer.
Canned whole and pureed chestnuts have been processed so do not have as good a flavor as fresh. And when using canned chestnut puree in savory recipes, always make sure that you have not purchased the sweetened version.
Fresh, dried or frozen chestnuts can be used for soups and stuffings, salads and vegetarian nut loaves and patties. Canned chestnuts are more suitable for sauces, cake fillings, desserts and ice cream recipes.
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Asian Recipes **
