Jammy Braised Chestnuts With Fresh Tomatoes & Herbs

5 from 1 vote
This unique and satisfying Greek vegan recipe for jammy braised chestnuts with fresh tomatoes and herbs is so easy and elegant it will surprise both you and your guests, whether they are vegan or not. Chestnut recipes in the Greek diet abound. Indeed, chestnuts are a major Mediterranean diet ingredient, used in stuffings, soups, as a snack, and also dried and ground into a flour that helped people survive during times of duress. This is one of my most beloved Greek recipes, and one that finds a place not only on my holiday table, say as a perfect Greek vegan Thanksgiving recipe or Christmas show-stopper, but also as a midweek sauce for pasta. It’s delicious and hearty.
5 from 1 vote

Jammy Braised Chestnuts With Fresh Tomatoes & Herbs

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4 medium red onions peeled, halved and thickly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin Greek olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves in brine or 4 regular garlic cloves
  • 4 medium firm ripe tomatoes (or canned plum tomatoes)
  • 2 packets sous vide vacuum-packed chestnuts, blanched as per package directions
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 2/3 cup dry white wine
  • 2 tablespoons petimezi
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons red wine or balsamic vinegar to taste
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Pinch of dried Greek oregano
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 3 – 4 sprigs dried thyme sprigs
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste or thick tomato puree

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a deep, wide skillet over medium heat and cook the onions until deeply caramelized, about 20 minutes.
  • While the onions are cooking, chop the garlic and set aside. Chop the tomatoes.
  • Add the garlic, then chestnuts to the onions and stir gently. Mix in the tomatoes and stir around with a wooden spoon. Season with salt. Add the petimezi and balsamic. Add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Add the oregano, thyme and tomato paste. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes, until the mixture is thick and almost jammy and all the flavors have melded beautifully together. Serve!

❤️ Enjoyed this Recipe?

Share this recipe on Facebook or Instagram!

Mention @dianekohcilas & tag #dianekochilas!

Diane’s Greek Single-origin Artisanal Foods

Visit my online shop for a wide selection of Greek single-origin artisanal foods, from honeys to wild herbs, olives, olive oils, pistachios, heirloom grain products, fruit preserves and more.

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Travel Cook Eat & Live with Diane

Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

Latest Recipes

More

Lemon Potato Smashers

Lemon Potato Smashers

Seafood Stew

Seafood Stew

Lentil Sweet Potato Soup

Lentil–Sweet Potato Soup with Spinach and Sage

Broccoli cauliflower salad

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with Feta and Lemon-Dill Dressing

Get Diane’s Latest Recipes and Longevity Secrets Delivered To Your Inbox.

Longevity Recipes

More

Featured In

My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo
My Greek Table Logo

D|K