Quick Answer: What Does The Lotus Root Taste Like?
A fresh lotus root gives hints of water chestnuts and sweetness that has a crunchy texture comparable to celery, as it’s a popular staple in many stir-fry dishes. It can soften when cooked, but its mild flavor and texture aren’t affected by this process.
It can also be used as a powder that can add a cooling balance to desserts and soups while giving dishes more texture, and when deep fried and cut can make a tasty snack.
The root is a widely popular ingredient in Asian cuisine, and it may not be surprising to find them sold in certain grocery stores, and when looking for them, you can find them linked in segments like you would with certain types of sausage.
From salads to stir-fries to soups, the lotus root is a versatile ingredient that can add a burst flavor and texture to a recipe.
You can find many health benefits that can do wonders with your nutrition, so perhaps you could consider trying some lotus root.
Below, we’ll go over what The taste of lotus root is like, the ways you can prepare the ingredient, and the wide range of health benefits you can gain from adding the root to your recipe.
How To Clean Lotus Root Before Cooking
Lotus root is a versatile and fantastic ingredient to cook; however, like any other vegetable, it is necessary to clean it before cooking.
Here are some simple steps to clean it:
- Fill a container or a bowl with lukewarm water, adding a pinch of salt.
- Wash the lotus stem in it until they are clean.
- Now rewash the lotus stem and pat them to dry.
- Chop off both ends of theirs and peel off the skin(upper layer).
Can You Eat Lotus Root Raw
Lotus roots are mainly found in East and South Asia at cheaper rates.
Lotus root has a taste and texture like Jicama; however, you can’t eat them raw. Instead, it should be boiled or appropriately cooked before eating.
An intricate lotus root with no soft spots is considered suitable for eating.
Dangers Of Eating Lotus Root – Are Lotus Root Poisonous?
Although lotus roots are safe and edible, think again if you think of having them raw.
Lotus roots used to have parasites, and eating them raw could be poisonous to you.
Apart from the danger of raw eating, lotus roots are safe. However, some allergies have been noticed in some cases but vary from person to person.
Can You Grow Lotus Root
Growing lotus roots is similar to growing lilies; if you can grow lilies, you may do lotus too.
Below are steps you can follow to grow lotus roots at home:
- Take a container, pond, or huge tub in which it will grow.
- Fill the container with 60 cm deep water and keep it in a place with sun exposure.
- Ensure the plants are securely mounted in the container at the bottom of the pond. Ensure that you can easily lift it so you can apply fertilizer.
- Monthly fertilization with organic fertilizer is recommended.
- Give the plant time to flower.
- You can lift the roots and harvest them whenever the plant dies.
Note:
- If you are planting it in a container, change the water yearly.
- Fill the water again if its level drops during the flowering season.
How To Prepare A Lotus Root
As versatile as the ingredient is, it can be appreciated for its cooling properties depending on the culture that uses it. Chinese cultures have thought the ingredient has brought balance to the body.
Before you prepare a lotus root, you will want to find one that is heavy and firm and doesn’t have any signs of softness or bruising, and you can find it in packaged and the seeds that come in dried form.
Below is a quick guide on preparing and cooking with a lotus root so you can achieve the perfect texture and taste with your other ingredients.
- Start By Peeling it – As you would for a potato, you can use a knife or a peeler for a more precise cut, allowing it to hold its shape in whatever recipe you choose.
- Make sure you clean it thoroughly – You can rinse it under water and clear any dirt that may have formed in the inner blemishes, especially the inner markings of the root slices.
- Add Vinegar to make it easier to cook with – You can use rice or Chinkiang vinegar to preserve its color by soaking your slices into a mix, or you could use water with a dash of salt, as this could add other notes to your flavor palette as well.
- Packaged versions or seeds of the root could save you time – As these tend to be dried, you can boil these with a vinegar base for 4-5 minutes, and once they’re softened, you can add them to your recipe.
How To Enjoy A Lotus Root
You can change the root’s texture and turn it into many forms to add an element to hot dishes, and when baked or fried, it can become soft and give you a creamier taste.
Below are some dishes that are made better with the lotus root.
Stirfrys
You can use oil in a skillet and cook the root slices, ensuring that you stir them until they become a golden color, then, you can add water or broth and continue to cook until the liquid evaporates or gets absorbed by the root slices.
You can add sugar, soy sauce, and Togarashi, and here you can add your other stir-fry ingredients or even use them with vegetables to make a refreshing salad.
Soups
From ramen to Japanese mochi soup, you can add some root slices with some spice as a garnish, and it works just as well with soups that use pork, peanuts, chicken, and corn, and can even be used in vegetarian and vegan soup recipes.
The root can give your soups a crunchy texture to them, and with some meat, scallions, seaweed, ginger, and some dried goji berries, you have a unique blend of flavors that can make any mid-week dinner plan much more exciting.
Desserts
The lotus seeds or the root itself can be prepared into a paste or boiled to create chewy Japanese mochi or stuffed lotus root with sticky rice, and here the use of sugar, dates, and syrup can make the dessert richer in flavor.
When you use the lotus root in a pot and let it braise, you’ll find that it soaks up the water and ingredients and turns a different color depending on what sugar and syrup you use, which is especially the case if you are making mooncakes and you prepare the paste yourself.
On Its Own
There’s nothing about it that means you can’t eat it raw, there is a chance of a bacterial infection, so washing and cooking them removes this risk, and you might find that it has an inviting flavor all on its own.
You could also bake or deep-fry some root slices, and getting thin slices that crisp up nicely are a popular snack food in Asian culture, or you could add some spices to these slices and make lotus root chips.
How To Store A Lotus Root
If you cut the ends off and store the peels of the root in an airtight container, these will usually last for up to a week, and whole varieties can be wrapped up in a damp cloth or a plastic bag but ensure that you keep an eye on the quality.
If you notice any black or brown spots or it begins to smell, you should definitely not cook with it, and you can freeze them if you’re unsure when you’ll use it, but this can soften them slightly and will have to be thawed for about 5 minutes to make it easier to cook with.
What Is The Nutritional Information Of A Lotus Root?
The root doesn’t have any cholesterol-raising nutrients inside of it and instead gives you a unique blend, alongside some vitamins and minerals, so per 100 grams of lotus root, you can find the following:
- 0.1 g fat
- 40 mg sodium
- 556mg potassium
- 2.6 g protein
- 17.23g carbohydrates
- 74 calories total
- 73% vitamin C
- 6% iron
- 0.04% calcium
- 6% magnesium
- 13% vitamin B-6
Health Benefits Of A Lotus Root
One of the biggest benefits is that it can help to improve heart health, as the root contains a high amount of potassium, which can help lower blood pressure, while folate and vitamin C can promote heart health and prevent the different types of heart disease.
The root can also help with your digestion, as a single lotus root contains 5.6 grams of fiber, which makes up 27% of your daily intake, and these will also make you feel fuller while consuming fewer calories, so they are great for those who want to restrict their calorie intake.
The benefits don’t just stop there, as consuming a lotus root as part of your diet can help cleanse your respiratory system, help to regulate your mood, increase blood circulation, and can promote skin, hair, and eye health.
Some studies have also shown that it could help to manage diabetes, as it can help to lower blood sugar levels, though more tests may be required to substantiate this benefit fully, which will no doubt be underway as we speak.
Are There Any Issues When Consuming Lotus Root?
As lovely as the lotus root sounds to consume, there may be issues with it, with one example being that in some cases, people can have allergies to the root; however, it is prepared and can be a risk to those who may not know they are allergic to it.
Other adverse effects include bad breath, diarrhea, fever, and even some problems with the liver, so it should be gradually introduced into a diet.
The introduction of the root into any diet may affect people differently based on age, weight, intolerances, and conditions, so it may be best to consult a dietician when making any meal plans, as you don’t want to risk worsening your health in order to make allowances for specific ingredients.
Another consideration is the amount of sodium in the root, which doesn’t sound as much as your daily value for it, which is less than 2,300 milligrams per day, so you should check your labels as sodium levels can be a value that is sometimes overlooked.
Quick Table: Delicious Lotus Root Recipes
| Recipes | Calories | Preparation Time |
| Pickled Lotus Root Salad | 48 Per Serving | 15 Minutes |
| Lotus Root Chips | 62 Per Serving | 25 Minutes |
| Stuffed Lotus Root With Sticky Rice | 524 Per Serving | 35 Minutes |
1. Pickled Lotus Root Salad
If you are looking for an escape from your typical and want to try something different, here is your chance to try pickle lotus root salad.
This Chinese lotus root salad looks good and is full of goodness, and will enhance the quality of your dinner.
With just a few ingredients, you will get an extremely appealing and tantalizing recipe to serve to your guests.
With a blend of uncooked spices, the Recipe for pickled lotus root salad will come out tremendous.
However, if you want, you may add your choice of spices or even roast them to enhance their taste.
Calories: 48 Per Serving
Preparation Time: 15 Minutes
2. Lotus Root Chips
If you have children who love to have chips at your home, then Lotus root chips are a healthy food option.
These chips are healthier than the typical potato chips and have a fascinating taste.
The best thing about these chips is you can experiment with the spices.
For instance, you may keep it simple with just salt, deep fry them, or cumin or other spices will also do wonders.
If you deep fry them, they will give you the taste of potato chips.
Calories: 62 Per Serving
Preparation Time: 25 Minutes
3. Stuffed Lotus Root With Sticky Rice
Winter and Autumn are the perfect seasons to try white food like lotus root. However, to enhance the quality of your food, you must add stuffed lotus root with sticky rice.
With the filling of sticky rice and garnishing of Osmanthus syrup, you will get a mouth-watering sweet flavor.
You may serve this dish as an appetizer. However, this dish is served as a dessert at a typical Chinese dinner, especially in southern china.
In just half an hour, you can get a flavor of Chinese cuisine through this marvelous dish.
Calories: 524 Per Serving
Preparation Time: 35 Minutes
Final Thoughts
With a complete overview of the lotus root, you can see how easy it is to incorporate it into your meals if you already use other roots, vegetables, or spices in your recipes, as you may only need to add a few steps to have an effective lotus root-type recipe.
While you may want to check out the lotus root, you will want to ensure that you prepare and cook properly to remove any harmful bacteria and even parasites that may find their way into your root during the cultivating or packaging process.
It can be an easy ingredient to use if you want to throw something quick together, especially if you’re looking to add some texture or depth of flavor to your recipes, which is always a good thing, as cooking, in general, can be a fun and exciting opportunity to try new things at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Lotus Root Good For?
Lotus root contains Vitamin A incorporating antioxidants properties that can do wonders for skin, eyes, and hair. It also helps with Ocular conditions and prevents inflammations and skin problems too.
Should You Peel Lotus Root?
It is important to peel the skin because it contains more bitter substances. As a result, the interior is light flesh in color. Steaming the whole lotus root is another way to handle raw lotus roots.
Are Lotus Roots Good For Weight Loss?
This root is rich in nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and fiber, which promote weight loss, acid reflux, immunity, pile control, and inflammation healing. In addition to helping with stress management, it improves blood circulation and heart health.
3 Delicious Lotus Root Recipes
Lotus root is known for its nutrients and health benefits. Learn below about 3 popular recipes of lotus root.
Directions
- Pick a recipe from the list above
- Pick a recipe from the list above
- Collect the ingredients and cook the food
- Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review
Recipe Video
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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