Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Wednesday’s Helping: Water Chestnuts

Crunchy product from aqua plants
Water chestnuts aren’t nuts at all. This food item may be sampled in Chinese dishes. They’re the fruit of a plant that grows underwater and in marshes throughout Southeast Asia. They get their name because of their resemblance in coloring and appearance compared to real chestnuts. Expect a crisp texture and slightly earthy or woodsy flavor from this ingredient. Chinese have cultivated water chestnuts for centuries. The edible portion takes 7 months to mature. Select fresh water chestnuts that are firm to the touch with no blemishes. Look for fresh water chestnuts in your local Asian foods mart. Meanwhile, we’ve spotted canned water chestnuts in the International foods aisle of many major grocery stores. Water chestnuts are a good source of fiber and potassium, which helps the body maintain a healthy Ph balance.

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