Lucky Shrimp and Lotus Seeds is light, flavorful, crispy, crunchy, lucky Chinese stir fry that you can have on your table in 15 minutes flat. Fabulous way to ring in the Chinese New Year!
Jump to:
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year falls on the first day of the month of the new lunar calendar. We need to celebrate with more delicious Chinese dishes to make this Lunar New Year feel special.
Sharing Different Cultures and Food
I am blessed to have many friends who love teach me about their unique cultures and foods. It is fascinating to learn about this holiday's significance and all of the symbolism behind it. When family and friends gather, it is time to celebrate and look forward to all things good and new and the main way they do this is through food.
Yes-food! When it comes down to it. We are all the same in every culture. We gather! We socialize! We eat! From East to West this concept is one that is the same in every region. Well maybe an exception is at a weight watcher's meeting...
Food Symbolism
One of the aspects of this yearly celebration that is commonly emphasized is the foods that are eaten. My Chinese friends tend to associate certain foods with the things they wish for the New Year, like prosperity, fertility, and good health, based on the symbolism evoked by these foods.
For example, lotus root in Cantonese sounds very similar to the expression year after year. Eating our Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry may help you bring abundance and prosperity in the new year.
What are Lotus Seeds?
Lotus seeds are seeds from the lotus flowers that grow in ponds.
Today I am going to make a quick and easy Chinese stir fry dish using fried lotus seeds and shrimp. Lotus seeds come from the beautiful lotus flower that grows in ponds and rivers. Have you ever been to People's Park in Shanghai, China? The pond in Peoples' Park is filled with gorgeous lotus flowers as far as you can see.
Lotus Seed Symbolism
In the Chinese culture, lotus seeds symbolizes fertility and good luck. More specifically lotus seeds are exactly what you need for a bountiful year with new bouncing babies in your home. So if you are like me with grown teenagers in the house and wish for no more, go easy on this dish...
I am hosting a Chinese family for a little lunar year celebration. So you may ask, what are you going to cook? Chinese dishes of course and I best brush up on my Mandarin.
How to Prepare Dried Lotus Seeds?
Dried lotus seeds cannot be eaten straight out of the bag. Here is the preparation method...
- Soak lotus seeds in water overnight
- Remove the green part in the lotus seed with a toothpick if you want to keep them whole or cut them and remove the inner green part. This little green part is very bitter.
- The easiest method is to cook them in the pressure cooker (Instant Pot) for about 10 minutes with about a 10 minute natural release of pressure. Alternatively, you can cook them on the stove top until tender. From there, they can be used in many recipes.
Entrée
However, I think sometimes simple is best, especially when your hosting a meal offering maybe 4-5 Chinese entrée dishes. My goal was to create a light and easy dish that whipped up in less than 15 minutes flat using my lucky lotus seeds. We created Lucky Shrimp and Lotus Seeds and it is sublime.
How to Make?
I started out with usual stir fry with a little oil then added garlic (of course!) a little onion, baby corn and then some fresh shrimp from the wet market, created a cornstarch flavored slurry and then finished off the dish some baby peas and sprinkled crunchy fried lotus seeds on top of the dish.
15 Minute Dinner
This Chinese dish is light, flavorful, crispy, crunchy, lucky and I had it on the table in less than 15 minutes flat. Good luck shrimp and lotus seeds is also gluten-free. If you do not have or can't get your hands on lotus seeds, no worries as this dish is flavorful and delicious even without.
More Chinese New Year Recipes
Spicy Beef and Longevity Noodles
Sticky Rice Chinese New Year Cake
10 Fun and Easy 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.
Lucky Shrimp and Lotus Seeds
Equipment
- Instant Pot optional
Ingredients
Lotus Seeds (optional)
- lotus seeds
(after soaked and pressure cooked) - handful sprinkled on top - optional garnish - water to soak lotus roots and to cook in pressure cooker
Lucky Shrimp Stir Fry
- 20 shrimp
(large, deveined and heads and tails off) - 1 cup baby corns cut on a diagonal
- ½ cup peas
- ¼ onion
small peeled and chopped - 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon chicken powder
(gluten free) or chicken bouillon - 1 teaspoon or to taste - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- white pepper
to taste - 1 tablespoon oil
- lotus seeds soaked and cooked - optional (Dish is also delicious with fried cashews or peanuts as a topping)
Instructions
Optional - Lotus Seed Preparation
- If you plan on topping with optional Lotus seeds, soak dried lotus seeds in water overnight. Then, you can either use a toothpick to remove the green vein that is bitter or chop in half to remove. Then place lotus seeds in the pressure cooker (instant pot) and cover with an inch or 2 of water. Set the pressure cooker on high and cook for 10 minutes. Allow to naturally pressure release for 10 minutes and then release pressure. Drain and dry.
Lucky Shrimp Stir Fry
- Gather all your supplies and have everything chopped, cleaned and ready to go into the wok.
- Make your Cornstarch slurry mixture: In a little cup, place ¼ cup warm water and mix in your gluten free chicken powder until dissolved. Add 1 tablespoon cornstarch, sesame oil and white pepper to taste and stir. Set aside.
- In a wok or frying pan place olive oil and turn on burner to medium high heat. Add onions and garlic and stirfry until translucent.
- Add the baby corn and add a splash of water (couple of tablespoons and then place a lid on to top to help steam for about 1-2 minutes) Take the lid off of the vegetable-do not over cook, just until firm aldente.
- Add the shrimp and keep stirring until they turn slightly pink, then add your optional lotus seeds and stir fry for a minute of 2 and then your cornstarch slurry mixture.
- Add your peas and keep stirring until the mixture is light and has a silky broth. If broth is too thin add more diluted cornstarch and water. If mixture is too thick, add more water. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Set your lucky shrimp stir fry on to a serving platter and enjoy with steamed rice.
hotlyspiced says
This dish is so beautifully presented, Bam, and it just looks stunning. I think the textures and the flavours would be wonderful xx
Asmita (@FoodieAsmita) says
Wow Bam,
This looks insanely delicious! Never cooked with lotus seeds before but would love to try it.
Geni - Sweet and Crumby says
Oh my gosh! This looks sooooo good Bam! Great job with the new ingredient. I am always a bit wary to try new and unusual ingredients, but I do need to be more like you. 🙂
Bernice says
I never used Lotus seeds - looking forward to try them. Recipe looks fab!
RecipeAdaptors says
Those lotus seeds certainly look interesting!
Dan says
I bet you have never heard of lotus seeds before. I love introducing people to new ingredients it makes our culinary experiences very fun. Take care, BAM
janinka1 says
Thank you Bam! I did not know how to use Lotus seeds. This recipe seems so yummy, and the picture as usually so attractive!!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Janinka, it is so nice to have you visit. Lotus seeds in Chinese coking are traditionally used in a sweet dessert but I wanted to try something outside the box so I went my own savory creation. Take care, BAM
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
Ok Bam... you are making me REALLY hungry! 🙂 I've never tried lotus seed before. I love lotus roots so much but I don't think we eat this in Japan (right?). It's maybe available in Chinatown but never even knew the existence of these seeds till now. Oishiso~~!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Nami-san, I have not seen these in Japan. However my husband is there now and I asked him to take a look and see for us. However, one thing I do miss from Japan is the ginko nuts. Oishii desu... Is everyone in your family okay in Japan as they had a 5.7 earthquake and believe it or not snow in Tokyo. Just to let you know my husband was there during it and he said no worries everyone there is A-OK. Thank you for your kind comment and take care. BAM
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
I was wondering how your new site was going for you! It's stunning, btw! I love the idea of lotus seeds.. and would love to find some (just not too many ;)! This is a dish I would love to try.. this minute if I could. I love that they have symbolism in their food, it makes eating so much more pleasing I think! xx
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Smidge, it is so nice to hear from you and thank you for your kind comment. I was thinking about you as well and wondering how your change over is going. It sounds like your household is quite busy with exams and chaos. This little 15 minute wonder , even without the lotus seeds might be a good quick dinner for your hungry crew. Take Care, BAM
petit4chocolatier says
Bam, I love shrimp and this looks so good! The last picture is as if I could pull up a chair and take a bite!
I love the slurry mixture!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Judy, this is a fun and quick and easy weeknight meal to get on the table quickly. The whole concept of making a cornstarch flavor slurry was something I learned from my old Chinese teacher and it works really well. Take care, BAM
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says
That shrimp. Yuuuuuuuummmmm. I'd bet I can't fing lotus seeds here anywhere...
Healthy World Cuisine says
Heather, finding lotus seeds outside of Asia unless you have access to an Asian market, may be difficult. However this dish is really delicious without and I think roasted garbanzo beans is the closest substitute for the crunch and flavor. Take care, BAM
GourmetGetaways (@GourmetGetaway) says
Oh I can't even begin to imagine how gorgeous this dish would taste!!! How wonderful to make such an auspicious dish for your guests. Although I have teenagers and little ones in the house and I will be steering clear of the lotus seed 😉
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comment. I love quick and easy dishes and if you have a houseful of teenagers and little ones you need all the extra time you can get. For all of us who are cautious about the "potential fertility side effect of lotus seeds" it is great even without. Have a super weekend. Take Care, BAM
Karen says
Your guests will certainly be impressed with your meal, I'm sure.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Hello Karen, Thanks so much for your kind comment. My guests finished off the plate and the whole time they kept on commenting on how they had never eaten lotus seeds savory before and they really liked that concept. Usually lotus seeds are eaten in desserts and such. Take care, BAM
tableofcolors says
Your dish looks wonderful! I wonder if I would be able to find lotus seeds here in Finland. They seem like a very interesting ingredient!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you. I think that you would have to look in an Asian food store. Lotus seeds may be difficult to find so a great substitute is roasted garbanzo beans or leave it out as the dish is quite flavorful without but yet you miss that little crunch. Happy cooking, BAM
Sawsan@ Chef in disguise says
Hello Bam
Congratulations on the new blog 🙂 it looks wonderful!
I love the white background and the beautiful theme.
I too enjoy learning about other cultures and your blog is always a wonderful insight into other places and culturesin the world
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Sawson for you kind comment and I enjoy learning the basics of Middle Eastern cuisine from you! I still seem to be having issues leaving comments but wanted to let you know how beautiful your Aleppo mortadella is and your chicken sausage. Take care, BAM
Korena in the Kitchen says
Sounds great, BAM! Those shrimp look succulent.
Healthy World Cuisine says
Thank you Korena for your kind comment and thank you very much for assisting in my comment issue... Take Care, BAM