Fresh lotus root – yummy food share

Crisp Lotus Root Garden Salad

2025-11-27

Welcome to a culinary adventure that’s as visually stunning as it is delightfully refreshing! Today, we’re diving into a quick yet elegant dish from traditional Asian kitchens: a Crisp Lotus Root Salad. This isn’t just any salad; it’s a beautiful appetizer that elevates any meal into a special occasion. With a preparation time of just about 10 minutes, it’s a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly remarkable. While the recipe lists ‘advanced’ difficulty, this refers more to the finesse of the plating than the cooking itself, making it accessible for home cooks looking to impress. The taste is clean and pure, allowing the natural flavors of the lotus root to shine, subtly enhanced by a light, zesty dressing. Get ready to discover a dish that’s both easy to prepare and a joy to behold. Before we get cooking, let’s gather our ingredients. The star of our show is the lotus root. This unique aquatic vegetable, the rhizome of the lotus plant, boasts a beautiful, lacy pattern when sliced and offers a wonderfully crisp texture. It’s packed with fiber and vitamins, making it a healthy choice. You’ll need one fresh lotus root section. For color and a touch of zest, we’ll use two small red chilis, or if you prefer milder flavors, you can use a small piece of red bell pepper instead. For the dressing and garnish, we’ll need a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, a dash of light soy sauce (often labeled as “low sodium” or “regular” soy sauce in Western supermarkets), a splash of white vinegar for tang, a drizzle of fragrant sesame oil, salt to taste, and a pinch of MSG if you enjoy its flavor-enhancing properties (optional, feel free to omit). If you can’t find light soy sauce, regular soy sauce will work,…

Crisp Lotus Root and Bok Choy Salad

2025-11-21

If you’re looking for a dish that is as stunningly beautiful as it is refreshingly delicious, you’ve come to the right place. This elegant salad, featuring crisp lotus root and vibrant green bok choy, is a masterclass in texture and minimalist flavor. While it looks like something you’d find at a high-end restaurant, you’ll be amazed to discover it comes together in just 20 minutes with a simple tossing technique. It’s the perfect light appetizer, a refreshing side dish for a rich meal, or even a delightful healthy lunch on its own. The beauty of this dish lies in its contrasts—the snappy, almost floral crunch of the lotus root against the tender-crisp bok choy, all brought together by a light, savory, and tangy dressing. It’s designed to awaken your palate and leave you feeling utterly refreshed. Let’s gather our beautiful ingredients. The list is short and simple, and I’ll offer some easy-to-find substitutions so you can make this wherever you are. One of the stars here is lotus root, a fascinating aquatic vegetable with a lace-like pattern when sliced. You can find it fresh in most Asian markets, but canned or frozen sliced lotus root works in a pinch—just be sure to drain it well! For the Salad: Fresh Lotus Root: 1 medium section (about 8-10 inches long) Baby Bok Choy: 10 small stalks. This tender, slightly sweet green is widely available. If you can’t find it, you can substitute with other quick-cooking greens like tatsoi or even blanched spinach. Salt: A pinch for the blanching water. For the Dressing (all to taste): Light Soy Sauce: 2 tablespoons. This provides the salty, umami base. Aged Dark Vinegar: 1 tablespoon. For najbolji results, look for Chinkiang (or Zhenjiang) black vinegar in an Asian market. It has a complex, malty, and slightly…

Crisp Refreshing Lotus Root Salad

2025-11-19

Get ready to discover a dish that’s as beautiful to look at as it is delightful to eat! This Crisp Refreshing Lotus Root Salad is a testament to how simple ingredients, prepared with care, can create something truly special. With vibrant textures and a clean, palate-cleansing flavor, it’s an ideal starter or side dish that requires just about 20 minutes of your time. While the original recipe notes a ‘high’ difficulty, we’ve found it to be surprisingly approachable, even for novice cooks, bringing a light and healthy touch to your table. The star, lotus root, offers a satisfying crunch, wonderfully complemented by a zesty, aromatic dressing. It’s the perfect way to add a pop of freshness and elegance to any meal. Here’s what you’ll need to bring this delightful salad to life. For the main event, we have 1 section (about 8-10 inches or 20-25 cm) fresh lotus root. When selecting lotus root at your local market, look for firm, unblemished roots with intact skin. If fresh lotus root is proving elusive, jicama can offer a similar crispness, though the unique texture of lotus root is truly unparalleled. We’ll also need a small bunch of fresh cilantro leaves for a burst of herbaceous flavor – feel free to substitute with fresh parsley if cilantro isn’t your favorite. For a decorative touch, the recipe calls for 1 thin slice of carrot, cut into a decorative flower shape. This is purely for aesthetics; you can easily substitute this with a few thin carrot ribbons or simple slivers. For the dressing, which we’ll prepare separately, you’ll need: light soy sauce (to taste) – a staple in many kitchens, it provides a salty umami base; white vinegar (to taste), which adds essential tanginess and helps keep the lotus root crisp; sesame oil (to taste)…