Photo: Dasha, CC BY 2.0 · source

Dish · From Bladwijzer

Boiled water chestnuts

Updated on 10 October 2026

• Makes: 2 to 4 people
• Time: 1 hr
• From: Water chestnut

Ingredients

• 20 to 30 ripe water chestnuts
• 1 tablespoon salt
• water

Method

1. Put on sturdy gloves. Scrub the nuts clean under running water with a brush and throw away any that are soft, cracked or smell musty.
2. Put them in a pan, cover generously with water, add the salt and bring to the boil. Simmer for 40 minutes with the lid half on.
3. Drain and leave to cool until you can handle them. Hold a nut with a glove or a cloth on a chopping board and cut it in half lengthways with a sturdy knife, or crack it with a nutcracker.
4. Scoop out the white kernel with a teaspoon or lever it out with the tip of the knife. Eat it warm with a little salt, like roast chestnuts.

Storing: Shelled kernels keep for 2 days covered in the fridge, or up to 3 months in the freezer. Also use them in a stir-fry or a stew.