Don’t you just love it when someone you like, a company or a person, contacts you? Acknowledges that you exist? I sure do. I recently got an email from Williams-Sonoma and they asked me to participate in their Smoothie Week. The email could just say “hi” and that would totally make my day, but they gave me a challenge I couldn’t refuse. I love smoothies and I love a good challenge.
Smoothie week is all about crazy smoothies, smoothies with a weird ingredient or made with an interesting technique. I think with smoothies we can have as many combinations as there are people. The list of recipes is just endless, because we all have our own preferences.
I thought a lot about the “weird” ingredients and came to the conclusion that what we consider weird is still very subjective. I may like something you don’t and that would be a weird ingredient.
But because we’re in the middle of this great season called fall, my mind immediately went to chestnuts. I love roasted chestnuts. I wait all year for them and can’t wait to see all the stands fill the streets, where I can get fresh roasted chestnuts any minute.
But chestnuts in a smoothie? I’ve never tried that before. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to do it and waste perfectly fine ingredients for a smoothie I might hate in the end. But I tried it anyway. And I’m glad I did, because I got this wonderful chestnut choco oats smoothie.
I bought roasted and peeled packaged chestnuts and they taste really good. I think freshly roasted would work too, but the store-bought are more convenient.
The mix of chestnuts, milk, raw cacao and cinnamon is so, so good; the banana and oats add texture and thickness, the honey adds sweetness and they all make this smoothie such a fall and winter treat. I would ideally drink this after an early morning walk in the woods, wrapped in a blanket while I sit by the fire. Dreamy!
Chestnut choco oats smoothie
The ultimate autumn smoothie!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
Ingredients
- 50g (1/2 cup) rolled oats
- 360ml (1 1/2 cups) milk
- 1 medium banana
- 80g (about 1/2 cup) roasted and peeled chestnuts
- 3 teaspoons honey
- 1/4 teaspoon raw cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- First grind the oats. Put oats in a blender and blend on maximum speed until they turn into powder. Pour in milk and blend until incorporated. Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
- Pour smoothie in a glass, sprinkle with more cinnamon and oats, if desired.
Notes
Make vegan: use milk of plant origin. I think almond milk would work great.
What a wonderful idea! A few weeks back one of the local farmers (from whom I buy eggs) let me pick a bunch of chestnuts that had fallen. I picked so many though, that sadly I wasn’t able to use them all in time. I sure did enjoy the freshly roasted ones! Next time I visit and pick up more I’ll have to keep this recipe in mind!
Thanks Kelsey, I’m glad you found a new way for using the chestnuts! 🙂
I love chestnuts and this recipe is very tasty thanks.
Oh, thank YOU! 🙂
Oh man…. this is a genius idea! I’ve actually never cooked with chestnuts before, but have been thinking about giving it a whirl this holiday season. Thanks for the inspiration!
Trish
Thanks Trish! You should definitely give it a try. Chestnuts also work in desserts or with green vegetables.
OMG, I need to try this next time chestnuts are in season!
Let me know if/when you do!
I’ll probably be in Slovenia at that time getting a new visa, so I’ll definitely give it a try then. Can’t wait 🙂
Great, and let me know when you’re in the area! 🙂