What Is Lotus root and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about lotus root and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 6 recipes to cook tonight.

Recipes using lotus root

There are 6 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Homemade Sweet Lotus Root Chips

Homemade sweet lotus root chips fry thin, lacy slices of lotus root until crisp, then glaze them in coconut treacle, sugar, and cinnamon. A pretty, sticky-sweet snack with a satisfying crunch.

Chinese Veggie Salad with Soy Dressing

This light yet tasty Chinese veggie salad is made with bean sprouts, lotus root, carrot, cucumber, black mushrooms, and tofu sheet, then tossed with a soy-rice vinegar-sesame oil dressing. A refreshing side dish that goes well with most of the main dishes, or just serve it with some steamed rice to complete a delicious meal.

Asian Miso Soup

Love miso, the fermented flavor gives the dish incredibly delicious taste. I developed this recipe, and use miso and water as the base, add fresh Asian vegetables, and let boil for a few minutes. I always have the soup with some Korean Kimichi. Here the recipe is.

Lotus Root & Wood Ear Salad with Soy-Ginger Dressing

A refreshing, tasty and light salad is made with crunchy lotus roots, carrot, celery and wood ears, tossed with a flavorful soy-ginger dressing. Make it a day ahead, keep in the refrigerator overnight.

Sri Lanka Nelum Ala (Curried Lotus Root)

Crunchy lotus root in a very flavorful and rich spicy coconut milk curry sauce, perfect over basmati rice. This recipe delivers huge flavor from some very simple ingredients.

Stir Fried Fresh Lotus Root

Fresh lotus root stir-fried with black mushrooms, tree ears, water chestnuts, and snow peas in a ginger-sesame glaze. A crunchy, earthy vegetarian dish that's as beautiful as it is satisfying.

All 6 recipes