A CLOSER LOOK
How to recognize it
Often has a horned shell; peeled kernels are pale and solid. Shell color and horn number vary by variety.
In the kitchen
Cooked and peeled as a snack, or used in stir-fries and braises. Younger kernels are crisper; mature ones become starchy and tender when cooked.
Not Chinese water chestnut (biqi) or tree chestnut. Remove the hard shell and cook thoroughly; shape alone does not identify a safe wild plant.
Ask about this ingredient
这道菜里有菱角吗？
Does this dish contain Water caltrop?
A few dishes to explore
These examples use this ingredient in typical or optional preparations. Open the dish to see the distinction; a restaurant’s recipe can differ.
