Chestnut Soup

Chestnut soup—which was on Chianti’s original menu—is a staple of the wintertime Italian table, but it isn’t as common in the United States. That’s a shame, because chestnuts have a wonderful, clean, distinctive flavor that really shines in a simple puréed soup. (Frozen chestnuts are available in most supermarkets; you can throw them directly into the hot saucepan straight from the package—no need to thaw them first!) That said, this is an extremely versatile recipe that I make all the time