Discovering Chinese Water Chestnuts

Reader Contribution by David Goodman
Published on July 9, 2014

I’ve always liked Chinese food, but I was never really a fan of Chinese water chestnuts … that is, until I grew my own and tasted them fresh.

The tasteless white discs in cheap takeout are only a pale shadow of the fresh vegetable.

Known in Latin as Eleocharis dulcis, Chinese water chestnuts are NOT the same as the invasive “water chestnut” that’s invaded our native wetlands. Chinese water chestnuts are a member of the sedge family and look like a 2-3′ tubular grass. At the base of the reedy growth, under a mat of roots, you’ll find the edible corms, or “chestnuts.”

These roots have a crisp, nutty flavor that’s delicious. Unfortunately, most Americans have never tasted them.

Experimenting with Chinese Water Chestnuts

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