water chestnut powder (flour)

A powdered starch ground from dried water chestnuts. It's used as a thickener in Asian cooking. Like cornstarch, it's mixed with a small amount of water before being added to the hot mixture to be thickened. It can also be used to dredge foods before frying. Water chestnut powder is available in Asian markets and in some natural food stores.

From The Food Lover's Companion, Fourth edition by Sharon Tyler Herbst and Ron Herbst. Copyright © 2007, 2001, 1995, 1990 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc.