Festive Chestnut Bites

These chestnuts are incredibly creamy and taste so strongly of wood. To get a crispy coating, the chestnuts are mixed with onion, garlic, and winter seasonings before being rolled in cornmeal. Because of how easy this dish is, you won’t have to worry about cooking on Christmas! You won’t believe how easy these are to make till you’ve tried them!

Ingredients

1 cup cooked and peeled chestnuts (canned or vacuum-sealed, unsweetened)
1 cup cooked quinoa
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Toothpicks for serving

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and peeled chestnuts, cooked quinoa, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, fresh parsley, and finely chopped shallots.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the chestnut mixture and toss everything together until well combined.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Once chilled, take spoonfuls of the mixture and roll them into bite-sized balls.
Serve the Festive Chestnut Bites on a festive platter with toothpicks for easy grabbing.