Arrowhead (wapato)

Sagittaria latifolia · Vegetable

40 pairings

Arrowhead, also called wapato or duck-potato, is the starchy underwater corm of aquatic plants in the genus Sagittaria — chiefly North American Sagittaria latifolia and the East Asian Sagittaria trifolia / sagittifolia (Chinese arrowhead, cigu). The small, bulb-like tubers are dug from pond and marsh mud, peeled, and cooked like a starchy root vegetable.

Picking a good onedrag

Hard, tight-skinned, bud intactSoft, shrivelled, bud rotting

Market firmThe standard corm. Boil until a knife slides through, roast it for the chestnut note, or slice it thin for a stir-fry. Cooked either way — raw it is acrid and astringent.Everyday best

SkinDuller, a few scuffs, still tight to the flesh

The budShoot run longer but solid — the New Year look

Weight and pressFirm, gives only under a hard thumb

What to look for, from hard, tight-skinned, bud intact to soft, shrivelled, bud rotting.

Preparing