Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry

Have you ever wondered, “What does lotus root taste like?” 

Lotus roots (also known as lotus stems) are mild in flavor and taste like a starchy potato. However, it’s that extra crispy addictive texture sets it apart from ALL other vegetables. Our Sichuan Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry is crunchy, garlicky, savory, spicy and takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. It’s a quick and easy vegan Asian dish for a weekday dinner.

Stir-fried lotus root is also commonly eaten during the Chinese New Year celebration because it symbolizes abundance and prosperity. The Cantonese word for lotus root is “Leen Ngau” which sounds like “having year after year” so it is lucky to eat in the Lunar New Year.

Jump to:

• What is a Lotus Plant?
• Edible Parts
• Ingredients
• Substitutions
• Prepping
• Sauce and Aromatics
• Stir Frying
• Dishes to Serve With
• How to Choose?
• How to Store
• Cooling or Warming Vegetable
• Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
• More Chinese New Year Recipes
• Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry

What is a Lotus Plant?

We can’t wait for you to try this unique aquatic rhizome plant called the lotus. The root of the plant thrives underwater producing huge leaves and flowers that grow upward and display on top of the water. Of course, the budding flowers are gorgeous and magical but just wait until you explore the wonderful textures and taste of this interesting vegetable.

Edible Parts

Did you know that you can eat every part of the lotus plant?

Yes, you can! You can even eat the lotus seeds. They add a pop of crunch in a Lucky Shrimp and Lotus Seeds stir fry or can be made into lotus paste for mooncakes. Even, the flowers can be steeped as a tea.

The edible stem is what we are using today to make a stir-fried side dish. Lotus root is called Lián’ǒu (莲藕) in Chinese and renkon (れんこん) in Japanese.  Chinese, Japanese, Korean and many other nationalities use this special crunchy vegetable to make delicious soups, stir fries, pickles, salads, braised or made into lotus chips. The actual root is not that glamorous to look at. It’s usually tan or beige with little sprouts at the end. However, once peeled, it has snow white flesh with holes in the core.

One of its best attributes is its ability to take on the flavors and seasonings of whatever you add to it. Lotus root recipes can be either savory like our Spicy Beef and Longevity Noodles or sweet like Braised Orange Anise Lotus Root.

Ingredients

Lotus Root –It’s the main ingredient in our spicy lotus root stir fry. You can buy them fresh with the peel still on, peeled and sliced in the refrigerator section, or frozen at Asian Markets near you. In addition, you can also find them canned but these are not as crisp.

Lemon water or vinegar – When the root is peeled and exposed to air, it can oxidize and start to turn brown. Either lemon or vinegar water can prevent this from happening. If you purchase them refrigerated or frozen, they are commonly preserved with a citric acid solution to prevent oxidation. We still like to blanch the lotus roots in either lemon or vinegar to prevent any further color changes during the cooking process. The vinegar or lemon juice soak also removes the slight bitterness of the root.

Ginger – fresh is best but substitute with 1 to 1.25 teaspoons of dried ground ginger for a large 1-inch knob of fresh ginger.

Garlic – but of course! Garlicky is one of our favorite food descriptions. Adjust to your liking.

Chili paste or Sriracha Sauce – Adds that kick of spice. If you have a full Asian pantry, doubanjiang sauce used in our Mapo Tofu is very delicious in stir fried lotus root.

Soy sauce – to taste. Use tamari sauce to keep this recipe gluten free.

Sesame Oil – for that umami flavor

Dried Red Pepper Flakes – easy to find ingredient that adds another layer of Sichuan spiciness.

Cornstarch + Water – slurry to thicken the sauce.

Green Onions – aromatic and a delicious garnish.

Substitutions

There is no perfect substitute for lotus root. However, in a pinch you could use jicama, daikon radish, turnip, water chestnuts or potatoes. Each of these items will change the taste and texture profile of the Chinese lotus root recipe but are still delicious. In addition, each item may need more or less time to blanch before stir frying.

To keep this recipe gluten-free, exchange the soy sauce with tamari sauce and you are good to go.

Prepping

For the full and complete recipe and video, please scroll down to the recipe card for details.

• Fresh Whole Lotus Root Prep: Cut the ends off the vegetable.  Peel, slice thin, and rinse well. As it grow in muddy murky waters, be sure to wash it thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris.
• If using frozen ones, defrost before using. We like to rinse pre-sliced refrigerated or frozen lotus prior to using in a recipe. Canned ones do not need to be washed prior to consuming. In addition, many times the refrigerated lotus roots have already been boiled (blanched) and are soaking in a solution of citric acid. (In this case, it is not required to soak and blanch before using in a stir fry.)

• After you are done rinsing, place raw lotus slices in a large pot of water with either lemon or vinegar and salt to prevent further oxidation and it also helps to remove that slight bitterness.
• Blanch (boil) the slices in the lemon or vinegar water for approximately 2 minutes in lightly boiling water with the lid on. Immediately drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process. Drain well and set aside. At this point, the lotus root is safe to cook and consume in a Spicy Sichuan Hot Pot (or mild broth) or any of your favorite recipes.

Sauce and Aromatics

• Make the stir fry sauce. Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, water, and cornstarch slurry together and set aside.
• In a frying pan or wok, add oil, ginger, chili sauce (Sriracha), garlic, whites of green onion and rinsed and drained blanched lotus root slices.
• Add dried red chili pepper flakes or fresh chilis to desired heat level.

Stir Frying

• Fry for couple of minutes on each side as I love that little sear. If you have a small wok or frying pan, you may want to do this in batching to increase the pan’s capacity for full contact with each lotus root slice.
• Lastly, add the stir fry sauce and keep stirring until the sauce thicken.
• Garnish stir fried lotus root with the green section of the green onions and red chili peppers as desired.

Dishes to Serve With

There are a variety of ways to enjoy blanched and cooled lotus root, such as thinly slicing it and adding it to salads or sushi rolls or grating it and using it as a topping for sandwiches or wraps. You can also slice the root into thin rounds and serve it as a crunchy snack, either on its own or with a dipping sauce.

If you want to serve it as part of a traditional Chinese dinner, try this recipe meal plan.

• Shanghai Wonton Soup or Spicy Garlic Cucumber Refrigerator Pickles
• Beef and Peppers in Black Bean Sauce and plain Jasmine white rice.
• Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry
• Four Ingredient Okra Stir Fry
• Chinese Pear Dessert Soup for a light ending.

Hosting a dim sum or Chinese New Year Gathering? Have fun with these tasty Chinese dishes along with a side of stir-fried lotus root.

• Asian Steamed Scallops with Garlic Vermicelli 
• Air Fryer Spring Rolls (Baked instructions included)
• Tofu Veggie Pancakes
• Homemade Chinese Dumplings
• Hong Kong Style Egg Tarts

How to Choose?

There are a few things you should inspect to make sure your lotus root is fresh, not spoiled, and perfect for stir frying.

A healthy lotus root has these following characteristics.

1. The skin is usually beige or light tan and should be free from any wrinkles.
2. Look for any mold spots. Do not choose any roots with white, black, brown, or green spots or areas.
3. They should be firm to the touch and heavy. If it is soft or feels light it could be rotten or dried out.
4. Choose ones that are relatively thin and uniform in size, as this will make them easier to cut into thin slices.
5. Lastly, cut into the lotus. If the flesh is yellow or pink, it has probably gone bad. A fresh one will be white inside. If the flesh smells sour, discard it right away as it has spoiled.

How to Store

Fresh Lotus Root is best enjoyed as soon as harvested because they can dry out or spoil. However, they can be stored in the refrigerator wrapped in a towel and in a loose baggie for up 1 to 2 weeks. Do not peel or slice but keep them whole.

If you peel or cut them, they will only last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. It is best to wash the lotus root well and soak in a bath of vinegar or lemon water, so they do not oxidize or turn brown.

Refrigerated peeled and sliced store-bought lotus roots are generally boiled (blanched), cooled and placed in a citric acid solution and sealed. They can remain in the refrigerator until the date to use by on the sealed package. Once the package has been opened, please consume within 3 days.

Cooling or Warming Vegetable

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), lotus root is considered a cool vegetable when raw. However, it should always be at least blanched before eaten. (You can read more about that in our FAQ section below.)

Once the vegetable is blanched, it is considered a neutral food with neither warming nor cooling properties. Cooked lotus root is generally seen as having a balancing effect on the body.  It provides strengthening of the spleen, stimulates the appetite, strengthens blood, promotes tissue regeneration, strengthens qi and is also high in fiber.

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

More Chinese New Year Recipes

Did You Like Our Recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. Your feedback is always appreciated! Follow us for more delicious recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for our email list for more free recipes.