Mystery ingredient / Water caltrop

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/10/2010 (5804 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What is it?

The bizarre, ornately shaped fruit or “corm” (the swollen tip of an underground stem) of a water plant that grows in freshwater ponds and streams in Indonesia, southern China, Japan, Italy, and tropical America. The water caltrop is also known as the European water chestnut, buffalo-head fruit, bull nut and Jesuit’s nut. Not to be confused with the familiar sweet-and-crunchy Chinese water chestnut, the water caltrop is actually toxic if eaten raw.

 

Looks like:

A tiny horned bull’s head, or a bat. It looks like it would make a cool ornamental clasp for a bolo tie. The hard-shelled, ebony black fruit is named after the caltrop, a vicious medieval weapon with two or more sharp nails or spines, arranged in such a manner that one is always pointed upward from a stable base — to slow down the advance of war elephants, horses, humans, or, in modern times, vehicles.

 

Tastes like:

A starchier, blander, nuttier version of the water chestnut. Although the Chinese and European water caltrop are not related, they are similar in flavour and appearance (once you get through the caltrop’s tough outer wall).

 

Used in:

After you shell water caltrops, you’ll need to steam or boil them before you can eat them,] as they contain harmful toxins in their raw state. The fruits can also be sautéed with rice and vegetables. Again, do NOT eat them raw.

 

Found at:

Lucky Supermarket, 1051 Winnipeg Ave.