What Can I Use Instead Of Chestnuts For the Radicchio And Blue Cheese Salad?

Asked by Harloann. Answered on 31st January 2023

Full question

The Radicchio, Chestnut and Blue Cheese Salad sounds amazing but might be hard for me to find chestnuts. What could be substituted?

Image of Nigella's Radicchio, Chestnut and Blue Cheese Salad — Photo by Jonathan Lovekin

Radicchio, Chestnut and Blue Cheese Salad with a Citrus, Grain Mustard and Honey Dressing

By Nigella

Our answer

Nigella's Radicchio, Chestnut And Blue Cheese Salad With A Citrus, Grain Mustard And Honey Dressing (from AT MY TABLE) is a mixture of salty, creamy cheese, bitter leaves and buttery chestnuts anointed with a bright citrus dressing. The chestnuts also provide some texture to the salad.

Nigella mentions in the introduction to the recipe that walnuts are a good alternative to the chestnuts and it is a good way to use up any walnuts left over from Christmas. But you could also use pecans or hazelnuts as an alternative as their slight sweetness will contrast well with the other ingredients. If the nuts are large then you may need to break them up slightly into pieces that are easy to bite. And use unsalted nuts as salted nuts will make the overall salad too salty.