405 chestnut recipes

Egg white-battered chicken chunks fried crisp in peanut oil, tossed with roasted peanuts in a spicy sauce of garlic, ginger, dark soy, sesame oil, and red vinegar. Sichuan-inspired heat at home.

Homemade steamed dim sum dumplings with a seasoned ground meat filling in four flavor variations: chili garlic, brown bean, hoisin, and orange zest. A fun Chinese appetizer project that freezes well.

Chinese steamed translucent dumplings (fun gor) filled with shrimp, ground pork, dried mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts in a wheat starch wrapper.

Shrimp and scallops marinated in sherry, then wok-tossed with asparagus, baby corn, and water chestnuts in a glossy sesame-garlic sauce. Quick Chinese-style seafood in 30 minutes.

Light crab salad with asparagus, water chestnuts, and green onions tossed in a tangy yogurt-horseradish dressing. A crisp, refreshing seafood salad that's low in fat.

Polynesian chicken tosses tender chicken with pineapple, snow peas, water chestnuts, and carrots in a sweet-and-sour sauce built from the pineapple juice. A light, colorful, takeout-style dinner over rice in about 30 minutes.

Baked couscous casserole with black beans, corn, roasted red peppers, and creamy ricotta, served over fresh spinach. A hearty vegetarian one-dish dinner for six.

Chinese chicken meatball soup with water chestnuts, snow peas, carrots, and green onions in a sherry-spiked broth. Light, fast, and full of crisp vegetables. Ready in 15 minutes.

Baked chicken breasts with amaretto and stuffing with an orange glaze.

Very light and tasty noodle salad, I added more garlic, and some cucumber, good combination and flavor.

Melrose plates: chicken and pasta salad with mandarin oranges, water chestnuts and a honey-mustard poppy seed yogurt dressing. A lighter chicken-pasta luncheon salad served on lettuce.

Fun gwau: Cantonese steamed dumplings stuffed with pork, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts, all wrapped in translucent wheat-starch wrappers. A dim sum classic.

Crispy stir-fried vegetables glazed in a honey-orange-ginger sauce, stuffed into pita pockets and grilled until sealed. A crunchy, sweet-savory meatless meal in 30 minutes.

Southern-style squash casserole with tender yellow squash, zucchini, crunchy water chestnuts, and a buttery herb stuffing topping. A church supper classic that never goes out of style.

Serve as the first course of a traditional Chinese dinner or alone as a light nutritious supper.

Mongolian beef with crispy deep-fried sirloin tossed in a spicy dark soy and chili garlic sauce with ginger and green onions. Authentic wok technique with water chestnut flour coating.