Chestnut Paste
The chestnut—châtaigne or marron in French—is the quintessential starchy nut of the holidays. Harvested in November, it is fêted in towns across France. Nutritious and versatile, chestnuts can be simply grilled, baked, or boiled. They are a classic accompaniment to roasted Christmas capon. Puréed into pâte de marrons (chestnut paste) or sweetened into crème de marrons, they form the basis of iconic desserts such as the Mont Blanc. Although crème de marrons is readily available, pâte de marrons may be harder to locate. You can use the Sabaton brand (pate de marrons or pate de marrons confit), or follow this recipe to make it from scratch.