Lotus root is a very common vegetable in China. It is originally from India and introduced to ancient China.
What is lotus root?
Lotus root likes to live in warm water, It can be eaten raw or cooked and it also has a high medicinal value.
The lotus root powder, which can eliminate food and relieve diarrhea, appetizing and clearing heat, nourishing the human body and preventing internal bleeding, and it is a good tonic liquid food for frail people.
What does lotus root taste like?
Lotus root is slightly sweet and crunchy.
How to grow lotus root
1. Temperature: Lotus roots like a warm environment. Species can be germinated above 15 ° C. The growth period requires the growth temperature to be controlled at 20-30 ° C and the water temperature to be controlled at 21-25 ° C.
2. Light: The lotus root is a light plant, and it is not shade-tolerant.
3. Water: Water is indispensable for the lotus root whole growth period. Shallow water is required for the sprout growth stage, and the water level should be controlled at 5-10cm. As the plant enters a vigorous growth stage, the water level is required to gradually deepen to 30-50cm.
4. Soil nutrition: The growth of lotus root is most suitable for organic-rich loam and clay loam. The content of soil organic matter should be at least 1.5%, the pH of the soil should be between 5.6-7.5, and 6.5 are the most suitable.
5. Wind: The petiole and pedicel of lotus root are thin and brittle, while the leaves are wide, which is most likely to be broken by the wind. Deepwater is usually irrigated temporarily before strong winds come to stabilize the plants and reduce the damage of strong winds to lotus root plants.
Lotus root nutrition
Per 100 grams of lotus root contains 77.9 grams of water, 1.0 grams of protein, 0.1 grams of fat, 19.8 grams of carbohydrates, 84 kcal of calories, 0.5 grams of crude fiber, 0.7 grams of ash, 19 mg of calcium, 51 mg of phosphorus, 0.5 mg of iron, carrots 0.02 mg, thiamine 0.11 mg, riboflavin 0.04 mg, nicotinic acid 0.4 mg, ascorbic acid 25 mg.
Where to buy lotus root
You can usually buy it in the market.
How to select a good lotus root
1. The longer the distance between the lotus roots, the higher the maturity of the lotus root and the softer the texture.
2. The lotus root should be full in shape. Do not choose the lotus root with incomplete bumps.
3. The lotus root with wet mud is better preserved and can be stored in a cool place for about 1 week.
4. When purchasing lotus root, choose lotus root with no obvious trauma inside and outside. If it is wrapped in wet mud, you can peel it off slightly when buying.
5. The skin of the lotus root should be smooth and yellow-brown. It is not recommended to buy if it is black or has a strange smell.
6. Lotus roots with large vents are better.
Generally speaking, it is better to choose a short section and a thick section. The second section is best from the tip of the section.
How do you store it?
Soaking the lotus root in water can delay the blackening of the lotus root.
How to prepare lotus root
You can clean the lotus root, remove the sand and hard stems, and then peel. Depending on your cooking needs, you can slice the lotus root (make salad), cut into small pieces (stir-fry with other ingredients), cut into large pieces (stew soup) or keep the whole lotus root (made of honey lotus root or glutinous lotus root).
Lotus root recipe
You’ll need:
3 lotus roots
300g glutinous rice
10 red dates
5g Osmanthus
400g sugar
100g rock sugar
50g brown sugar
How to cook lotus root
1. Wash and shave off the lotus root skin.
2. Cut off the upper part of one side, soak it in clean water for 15 minutes, wash and dry it.
3. Drain the glutinous rice that soaked in water for 3-6 hours in advance and fill the inside of the lotus root. ( Optional filling with chopsticks or sticks)
4. Use a toothpick to fix the two parts of the lotus root together. Add water, sugar and red dates in a pressure cooker, heat it until the sugar is completely melted.
5. Add the lotus root in the pressure cooker, cover the lid and heat it under high heat until heard a loud noise. Turn off the fire, and continue to cook it under small heat for 60-90 minutes. Transfer them on a plate and cool them.
6. Slice lotus root and transfer it on a plate. Pour a little sugar juice and sprinkle with Osmanthus. Serve it.
Lotus Root
Ingredients
- 3 lotus roots
- 300g glutinous rice
- 10 red dates
- 5g Osmanthus
- 400g sugar
- 100g rock sugar
- 50g brown sugar
Instructions
- Wash and shave off the lotus root skin.
- Cut off the upper part of one side, soak it in clean water for 15 minutes, wash and dry it.
- Drain the glutinous rice that soaked in water for 3-6 hours in advance and fill the inside of the lotus root. ( Optional filling with chopsticks or sticks)
- Use a toothpick to fix the two parts of the lotus root together. Add water, sugar and red dates in a pressure cooker, heat it until the sugar is completely melted.
- Add the lotus root in the pressure cooker, cover the lid and heat it under high heat until heard a loud noise. Turn off the fire, and continue to cook it under small heat for 60-90 minutes. Transfer them on a plate and cool them.
- Slice lotus root and transfer it on a plate. Pour a little sugar juice and sprinkle with Osmanthus. Serve it.
joy buenaflor
Very good, and healthy. That’s what I ask from a meal!