The Party Vegan's Chestnut Bisque Recipe

This rich velvety soup is a wonderful way to begin this festive meal.  If you can find jarred or frozen peeled chestnuts, it will cut down on your preparation time considerably.  If using fresh chestnuts, see the preparation instructions following in this recipe and plan to prepare them in advance. (Peeled chestnuts are sold at Asian markets at a fraction of the cost in supermarkets.) For a thinner but still rich soup, add up to one cup of almond milk close to serving time.Adapted from "Party Vegan" by Robin Robertson.