October 15, 2025
How to Cook With Chestnuts: Ginger-Shrimp Stir-Fry with Chestnuts, Mushrooms & Sriracha Glaze
From the United Chestnuts Test Kitchen | Cooking with Chestnuts
Chinatown Boston – as a girl little did I know chestnuts were a prime ingredient in Asian cooking and how my journey would intersect with them. All the more reason we are working to change how American’s see chestnuts.
When I was 12, growing up in a Boston suburb, I’d beg my mom to take me into the city — to the market and Chinatown — she took me often and I’ll always be grateful for that. I loved cooking so much that I’d babysit, clean houses, or rake leaves just to buy ingredients and practice new recipes for my family.
Little did I know that my love for food would one day lead to chestnuts — an ingredient woven into so many dishes across Asia.
I remember saving up money to buy editions of the Time Life International Cookbook series.
If you’re an adventurous cook like me, it’s time to add fresh chestnuts to your repertoire. Wondering how to cook with chestnuts? Start here!
This vibrant stir-fry combines sweet, buttery chestnuts with shrimp, mushrooms, ginger, and a splash of Sriracha for heat and color. It’s quick, satisfying, and proof that chestnuts belong in everyday meals — not just the holidays.
At the United Chestnuts Test Kitchen, we’re exploring new ways to bring chestnuts back to American tables. In this recipe, you’ll see how they add richness and texture to Asian-inspired dishes — especially when cooked perfectly tender in the Instant Pot..
Ingredients (Serves 2–3)
- ¾ lb fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ¾ cup fresh chestnuts (about 12–14 whole)
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil, plus more for finishing
- 1 Tbsp neutral oil (avocado or canola)
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 cup mushrooms (white or shiitake), sliced
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce (or tamari)
- 1 tsp honey or brown sugar
- 1 tsp rice vinegar or lime juice
- ½–1 tsp Sriracha, to taste
- 1–2 green onions, sliced
- Optional: chili flakes or toasted sesame seeds
- Chinese noodles or jasmine rice, cooked, for serving
Instructions
1. Cook the chestnuts (Instant Pot method)
Score each chestnut with an “X” on the flat side. Add to the Instant Pot with 1 cup water and a pinch of salt.
Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes, then quick release. Peel while warm — the shells slide off easily. Slice into halves or quarters.
2. Sauté aromatics
Heat sesame and neutral oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots, ginger, and garlic; stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Add mushrooms and chestnuts
Toss in mushrooms and chestnuts; stir-fry 2–3 minutes until mushrooms brown and chestnuts caramelize slightly.
4. Cook shrimp
Push vegetables to one side, add shrimp, and cook 1–2 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
5. Make the Sriracha glaze
Stir in soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and Sriracha. Toss everything together and cook another 1–2 minutes until glossy.
6. Finish and serve
Drizzle a touch more sesame oil, top with green onions and chili flakes. Serve over Chinese noodles or jasmine rice.
I served this with soba noodles and edamame beans sprinkled with oven roast chestnut chips from Treeborn that I picked up at the Chestnut Growers of America conference in Lansing Michigan. I also used local honey from Parks-Apiary. A perfect dinner. Recipe developed by chestnut chef, Melanie Jones of United Chestnuts.
Test Kitchen Notes
- Why it works: Chestnuts absorb the Sriracha-soy glaze like little flavor sponges — adding body and a buttery finish to the dish.
- Instant Pot hack: Pressure cooking chestnuts keeps them moist and easy to peel — no crumbling or dryness.
- Make it yours: Add bok choy, snow peas, or bell peppers for more crunch and color.
Why This Recipe Matters
Americans often ask what to cook with chestnuts or how to use them in everyday meals.
This dish answers both questions. It shows that chestnuts aren’t just a snack — they’re a fresh, local ingredient that can stand alongside shrimp, mushrooms, and soy sauce in a simple, weeknight stir-fry.
The United Chestnuts Test Kitchen exists to help people discover exactly that: how to cook, bake, and live with chestnuts in delicious, doable ways.