Arrowhead

Arrowhead is the edible corm of the aquatic plant Sagittaria, which grows in shallow freshwater across Asia, North America, and parts of Australia. The small, bulb-shaped tubers have a crisp texture when fresh and become fluffy and potato-like when cooked, with a subtle sweetness and a faintly bitter finish.

Arrowhead is a staple in Chinese and Japanese cooking, where it is sliced into stir-fries, simmered in soups, or deep-fried into chips. In Chinese New Year celebrations, arrowhead chips are a traditional snack. The tubers can be treated much like potatoes — boiled, roasted, mashed, or sliced thinly and fried.

In Australia, fresh arrowhead can occasionally be found at Asian grocers, particularly around Lunar New Year. Canned and frozen versions are more widely available.