chinese water chestnut
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A plant species: Chinese water chestnut refers to a type of sedge plant (Eleocharis dulcis) native to Asia, which produces edible, bulb-shaped corms (often called tubers) underwater in marshy conditions. 2. An edible tuber: The term also commonly refers to the crisp, white, sweet tuber (corn) itself, which is harvested from this plant and used as a vegetable in cooking.
Usage Examples
- The Chinese water chestnut is cultivated in flooded fields or ponds.
- For the stir-fry, we need to peel and chop some fresh Chinese water chestnuts.
- The recipe calls for a can of Chinese water chestnuts to add crunch to the salad.
Advanced Usage
- Botanical Context: In botanical and agricultural texts, "Chinese water chestnut" precisely denotes the species to distinguish it from other, unrelated plants also called "water chestnut" (e.g., , the European or Singhara water chestnut).
- Culinary Context: In recipes and food writing, "water chestnut" is often used as a shortened form, but "Chinese water chestnut" specifies the common, commercially available variety known for its crunchy texture and sweet, nutty flavor.
Variants and Related Words
- Water chestnut: A common shortened form. However, this can be ambiguous as it may refer to other species.
- Eleocharis dulcis: The scientific (Latin) name for the plant.
- Corm: The correct botanical term for the edible, bulb-shaped underground plant stem. It is often colloquially called a tuber.
Synonyms
- No direct single-word synonyms exist. Descriptive phrases include "edible sedge tuber" or "Asian water chestnut corm."
Related Phrases
- Canned water chestnuts: Refers to the pre-peeled, cooked, and preserved tubers commonly found in supermarkets.
- Fresh water chestnuts: Refers to the unprocessed, whole corms with a brown, papery skin that requires peeling before consumption.
Notes on Meaning
It is important to distinguish the Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis) from the European water chestnut (Trapa natans), which is a different aquatic plant producing a hard, horned nut. The Chinese variety is the one predominantly used in East and Southeast Asian cuisine.
Noun
- Chinese sedge yielding edible bulb-shaped tubers