Italian chestnut soup with mushrooms and thyme

Italian chestnut soup with mushrooms and thyme is an ideal soup for autumn and winter.

Time estimate: The preparation time does not include cooking and peeling the chestnuts, as this depends heavily on the portion size and the speed of the person preparing them. Cooking the chestnuts takes 25 minutes, while cutting them open and peeling them afterward takes between 30 and 60 minutes per 500g of chestnuts. We used fresh chestnuts and prepared them the day before. However, you can also buy pre-cooked chestnuts.

Serving size: The specified quantity for 2 servings is sufficient for a main course for 2 or an appetizer for 4.

Nutritional profile: According to GDA guidelines, one serving of this fiber-rich dish covers well over 100% of the average daily requirement for vitamin C and copper. Folic acid, potassium, and vitamin B6 are covered at approximately 80%. However, some heat-sensitive nutrients such as folic acid and vitamin C are lost during the cooking process, slightly reducing the amount per serving. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is 3:1, below the maximum recommended ratio of 5:1.
Further information on this topic can be found at the following link: Vegans often eat unhealthily. Avoidable nutritional mistakes.

Chestnuts: Compared to other nuts, chestnuts contain significantly less fat and calories. Due to their high starch and fiber content, the pleasantly sweet and nutty chestnuts are very filling. Furthermore, chestnut flour can be used as a grain substitute for people with gluten intolerance (celiac disease) because it is gluten-free.

Marrons vs. sweet chestnuts: Although the two terms are often used synonymously, strictly speaking, they do not refer to the same ingredient in German-speaking regions. Marrons are a cultivated variety of the sweet chestnut, thus distinguishing between common sweet chestnuts and true marrons. The latter have a flattened shape on one side and are generally larger than sweet chestnuts.

Vegetable stock: Instead of vegetable broth, we opted for the salt-free vegetable stock, which you can also make yourself in advance: Vegan vegetable stock.
If you lack the time or ingredients, you can also use ready-made vegetable broth or store-bought stock in the same quantity. However, for both, especially the former, the salt content of the recipe will increase considerably, which you should take into account when seasoning.

Refinement: You can add a splash of white wine to the chestnut soup while cooking.
You can also omit the oat milk entirely and add more stock or water instead.

Cooked chestnuts: You can buy pre-cooked chestnuts, however they are significantly less aromatic, which is why we recommend using fresh chestnuts.