Vegetable
Eleocharis dulcis
S tier
Eleocharis dulcis is the Chinese water chestnut—an aquatic sedge producing crisp, white-fleshed corms under muddy ponds, famous for staying crunchy even after cooking. Flavour is mild, slightly sweet, and clean. Unrelated to terrestrial chestnuts. Peel fresh corms or drain canned; stir-fry, dice into dumplings, or eat raw. Species is the true Asian water chestnut of Chinese cuisine. Texture is the entire point.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
Can DrainDumpling DiceRaw SnackSoup CrunchStir Fry
Traits
Aquatic CropCrispMild SweetSpecies Primary Sedge CormSpecies UmbrellaStays Crisp CookedWhite Flesh
History
CN
Chinese cultivation of E. dulcis corms is ancient in flooded fields.
CN
Water chestnuts were standard in regional Chinese banquet and home dishes.
Canned water chestnuts carried the crunch worldwide.
Fresh corms appeared seasonally in Asian markets abroad.