Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Ngaku?

My colleagued asked me this morning, what is ngaku in English. Me? Asking me... wrong person to ask. Is it part of Negaraku? Not!!!

So I just googled it :-D I remember eating this only during Chinese New Year, cooked with Chinese sausage. Delicious.

From www.answers.com
http://www.answers.com/topic/arrowhead
Aquatic plant (Saggitaria sagittifolia); both leaves and root are used in Chinese cooking. Also known as tule potato or wappato.

A root vegetable with a crunchy texture and slightly bitter flavor. It's also known as Chinese potato and swamp potato, the latter name coming from the fact that it's grown under water. Choose roots that are firm and free of blemishes. Refrigerate in a plastic bag for up to 2 weeks; peel before using. Arrowhead is best cooked by braising, boiling or steaming and can also be added to soups.



News on The Star Ngaku crisps, anyone?
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/1/24/north/20018839&sec=North
THEY are crunchy, tasty and addictive. Once you start crunching on ngaku (arrowhead) crisp, it's hard to stop. These crisps, which look like potato chips, are made from the ngaku, a tuberous vegetable from China which has a woody taste.

Also known as Chinese potato or swamp potato because it grows in water, the ngaku is only available during the Chinese New Year celebration as it is a seasonal vegetable....

Arrowhead
http://images.google.com.my/imgres?imgurl=http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/chinesearrowhead.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.foodsubs.com/Tubers.html&usg=__plvAKqTpjkjaJhGCdBS886LiVYc=&h=263&w=372&sz=10&hl=en&start=10&um=1&tbnid=MVZfH5XC-xkBkM:&tbnh=86&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3DChinese%2Bpotato%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DG

arrowroot = arrow root = Chinese potato (this name also is used for jicama) = goo = seegoo = arrowhead = Chinese arrowhead = tse goo = ci gu = tsu goo

Notes: The name arrowroot is more commonly associated with a thickener that's made from the plant. A fresh arrowroot tuber looks like a small onion, only without the layers. It should be peeled, and then it can be boiled or stir-fried. Look for it in Chinese markets during the winter. Substitutes: water chestnuts OR jicama

Arrowhead Growing Information
http://www.greenharvest.com.au/Plants/arrowhead_info.html

3 comments:

dorcas said...

yes, it is delicious.

Anonymous said...

After so many years, finally i know the exact name for this 'ngaku'... thanks, daniel!!
I still remembered few years ago, when this 'ngaku' was introduced to the market, one of the chinese vegetable seller in the wet market told 1 malay auntie that,"Ini 'gigi-kuku' banyak sedap punya lar!" Hahahahaha.....

d'Lion said...

'gigi kuku' Hehe...

Glad to be of help, I too wanted to know what 'ngaku' is.