Water chestnut

Eleocharis dulcis

root · vegetable

A small brown corm of an Asian marsh plant of the sedge family, with sweet white flesh that stays crunchy even when cooked; mostly canned, sliced, in stir-fries.

Origin

Marshes of Southeast Asia and southern China

Season (United States)

imported · all year round

Preparation

Raw, its surface can pass on an intestinal fluke: peel it and cook it — the canned kind already is.

Molecules

In small amounts, not counted Insoluble fibers

Did you know?

It owes its name to its corm's resemblance to a chestnut; but two other aquatic plants, the water caltrops, are also called water chestnuts.