How to peel fresh water chestnuts

Fresh Water Chestnut

Water chestnuts are delicious, and I was surprised to hear that there are people out there that haven’t tried them.  Common in Chinese cuisine, the water chestnut is a white vegetable with a crispy texture, and lightly sweet and nutty flavour.  They are available fresh as well as tinned, and retain much of their crunchy texture when cooked.

If you manage to find fresh water chestnuts, they will keep for about a week in the fridge provided you keep them in a bowl of water and change it daily.  Fresh water chestnuts need to be peeled before use, so here’s how to do it.  While quite labor intensive, it’s not complicated.  First, cut off the top and bottom of the water chestnut.  Then peel down the sides just under the skin as if you’re peeling an orange or grapefruit.

Cut off the top and bottom of the water chestnut

Slice the skin away just under the surface

For those looking to lose weight, don’t turn to the water chestnut.  They are about 60% starch, with a cup of vegetable providing about 130 calories.  However, water chestnuts are rich in iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium.

A bowl of fresh sliced water chestnuts