Tag Archives: Lotus roots

レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 農業, Food, Food Health, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Takuan Chahan-Takuan Fried Rice

November 6, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

here is another recipe for vegans, hungry ones in this case!
You need very little and can used leftover rice!

INGREDIENTS: (For two people)

Takuan: as appropriate
Steamed rice (cold leftover is best!): 2 Japanese bowls
Finely chopped scallions or leeks: as appropriate
Sesame seeds: as appropriate
Sesame oil: as appropriate
Salt: “shokoji/塩麹” if possible. If not available salt of your choice. As appropriate.

Optional: Herbs, vegetables and spices of your liking!

RECIPE:

Chop the takuan finely.

In a large fry pan pour some sesame oil. Fry takuan first for a little time.

Add rice and mix with takuan and fry all the time.
Add chopped leeks (and optional herbs), mix and continue frying.
Add sesame seeds. mix and continue frying.
When rice is properly fried add salt and spices (optional), mix quickly and serve!

Easy and very healthy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Oh Bento by Keith in Hull, UK, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, PepperBento, Hapabento , Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

レシピ, 美食, Daikon, 野菜, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka City, Vegan, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Japanese Vegan Recipe: Easy and Beautiful Takuan and Shiso Appetizer!

October 31, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

It is not always easy to organize a party for vegans, especially for the ones who enjoy their drinks.
You need colors and design to entice people’s appetites and the Japanese are proficient at creating beauties from almost nothing!

How about Takuan and Shiso rolls for appetizers?
“Takuan” is Japanese pickled daikon and “Shiso” is perilla whose leaves and flowers are so delicious raw!

INGREDIENTS:

Takuan cut in thin slices: As many as you want!
Shiso: As many leaves as you want! Think of the size!

RECIPE:

First cut the takuan if you a\have it whole.
If you can find sold sliced, the better.
Sponge off any liquid off the takuan slices first or you will have yellow juice everywhere!
Clean the shiso leaves in running water and sponge off all water if deemed necessary.

Look at the picture above!
Cut the takuan slices in halves.
Put a shiso leaf on one takuan half slice.
If the shiso leaf is too big cut it as to cover a little less than half the takuan slice.
Do not throw away the cut shiso leaves leftovers. You can chop them finely and use them for decoration or seasoning!
Roll.
Don’t bother securing them. If the takuan slices are thin enough they will not unfold.
When you serve them place them inside a dish which allows to pacj\k them side by side for mutual support!

So simple and beautiful!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

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Vegan Japanese Recipe: Lotus Root Hamburger 2-Tofu version

October 19, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

lotus roots, or renkon/蓮根in Japanese, have been a popular vegetable for eons.
Shizuoka prefecture is quite famous for the quality of its lotus roots all over japan!
Here is the second version of a vegan recipe for yummy lotus root hamburgers with tofu!

INGREDIENTS: (For 2^3 people)

Tofu: 300g
Lotus root: 200g
salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Cornstarch: 2 tablespoons
Salad oil: 2 tablespoons
Grated fresh ginger or wasabki: as appropriate
Soy sauce: as appropriate

RECIPE:

Place the tofu inside an oven bowl.
Heat in a microwave oven for 3 minutes at 500 w.
Transfer into a bowl with small holes to drain it of water.

Peel the lotus roots.
Grate the whole into the bowl containing the tofu that has been completely drained.

Add cornstarch and mix well.
Add salt (don’t make a mistake in the order!) and mix well into a paste.

make patties 5~6 cm diameter. Don’t make them too or they will break easily. You can make s
them small, too.
Pour oil in a fry pan and cook slowly over a low fire.

Fry them well until both sides have attained a nice brownish color.

Serve with a light sauce and grated ginger or wasabi!

Serve them with some green for better presentation!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Lotus Root Steaks

March 13, 2010 dragonlife 2 Comments

This is the third (and not fianl, I hope!) of a series of vegan recipes for such friends as Vegansarus prepared with lotus root or renkon/蓮根 in Japanese. These should be easier and easier to get these days. They do provide a great bite on top of their nutritional value!

By cutting lotus roots into thick slices you can eat them like steaks!

Lotus Root Steaks!

INGREDIENTS: For 2~ paople

-Lotus roots: 2~ large ones
-Olive oil (EV): as appropriate
-Salt: a reasonable quantity
-Freshly ground black pepper: as much as you want!

RECIPE:

-Peel and cut lotues roots into 1 cm-thick slices. make sure of getting rid of any blemish. Wash them in clear cold water and drain thoroughly.

-Pour enough olive oil in frypan. More than less oil is better as it will be sucked in by the lotus root. Place lotus roots on oil. Cover with lid. Cook over a medium fire. Fry both sides of the slices until they have reached a nice brown colour.

-halfway through cooking, when lotus root slices are starting changing colour sprinkle salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides.

When ready serve as they are, or with some reen leaf vegetables.
A little chili pepper or a final seasoning for people who like their food spicy!
Simple, isn’t it?

Great with Japanese sake or beer!

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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Lotus Root Chips

March 12, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

This is the second of a series of vegan recipes for such friends as Vegansarus prepared with lotus root or renkon/蓮根 in Japanese. These should be easier and easier to get these days. They do provide a great bite on top of their nutritional value!

Potatoes are great as chips, aren’t they? Now, lotus roots are too! Moereover, they can be used for striking decoration in salads!

Lotus roots Chips!

INGREDIENTS: For 1 person

-Lotus root: 1~2 medium size
-Oil
-Salt

RECIPE:

-Cut the lotus root root into 2 mm thick slices and wash them lightly in water.

-Drain them thoroughly. Take out all excess water by pacing them between two sheets of kitchen paper.

-Fry them slowly in oil at about 150 degrees Celsius. keep in mind that overfried lotus roots (dark brown to balckish9 become sour and tasteless!

-Scopp them out when they attained the right colour and let them rest on a sheet of kitchen paper to take out excess oil.

-After letting them cool a bit, drop them in a (clean!) vinyl pouch with a little salt and shake them around for an even taste!

Great with Japanese sake or beer!

Please check the new postings at:
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Vegan Japanese Cuisine: Sweet & Spicy Lotus Roots

March 11, 2010 dragonlife 4 Comments

This is the first of a series of vegan recipes for such friends as Vegansarus prepared with lotus root or renkon/蓮根 in Japanese. These should be easier and easier to get these days. They do provide a great bite on top of their nutritional value!

Sweet & Spicy Lotus Roots!

INGREDIENTS: for 2 people

-Lotus root: a 20cm long piece
-Fresh ginger juice: 1 teaspoon
-Soy sauce: 1 tablespoon
-Mirin/Sweet sake: 1 tablespoon
-Rice vinegar: 1 tablespoon
-Cornstarch: as appropriate
-White sesame seeds: as much as you want
-Salad oil (of your choice): 1 tablespoon

RECIPE:

-Slice the lotus roots to the thickness of your preference. A lttle thick will provide a satisfying bite.

-Coat the lotus root slices with cornstarch.

-Fry the lotus root slice in oil until both faces have attained a nice brown colour. let them rest on a sheet of kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.

-In a bowl, prepare the sauce by mixing the fresh ginger juice, soy sauce, mirin/sweet sake, rice vinegar.

-In a clean frypan drop the fried lotus root slices. Heat them again. Pour the sauce on them and fry until they become “sticky”.

-Serve them immediately with some white sesame seeds!

Great with Japanese sake or beer!

Please check the new postings at:
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Vegetables Facts and Tips (11): Lotus Roots/Renkon

April 18, 2009 dragonlife 10 Comments

lotus-root1

In Japan we are at the end of Lotus Roots season, but eat them all year round!
Lotus roots come from a plant called Nelumbo nucifera, also known by a number of names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, or simply lotus. This plant is an aquatic perennial. Under favorable circumstances its seeds may remain viable for many years.
A common misconception is referring to the lotus as a water-lily (Nymphaea), an entirely different plant.

Native to Greater India and commonly cultivated in water gardens, the lotus is the national flower of India and Vietnam.

The flowers, seeds, young leaves, and “roots” (rhizomes) are all edible. In Asia, the petals are used sometimes for garnish, while the large leaves are used as a wrap for food. In Korea, the leaves and petals are used as a tisane. Yeonkkotcha (연꽃차) is made with dried petals of white lotus and yeonipcha (연잎차) is made with the leaves. The rhizome (called ǒu (藕) in pinyin Chinese, ngau in Cantonese, bhe in Hindi, renkon (レンコン, 蓮根 in Japanese), yeongeun (연근) in Korean is used as a vegetable in soups, deep-fried, stir-fried and braised dishes. Petals, leaves, and rhizome can also all be eaten raw, but there is a risk of parasite transmission (e.g., Fasciolopsis buski): it is therefore recommended that they be cooked before eating.

FACTS:
-Season: September~December in Japan.
-Beneficial elements:
Lotus roots have been found to be rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, copper, iron and manganese, while very low in saturated fat.
Various parts of the lotus are also used in traditional Asian herbal medicine.

TIPS:

-Choose specimens with a clear white cut section. There should not be any black spots.
-Use large specimen as they are easier to cut and use.
-To prevent oxydising, warp cut specimen into wet kitchen paper.
-Add vinegar to water when bolingthem to keep them white.
-The easiest way to peel them is to use a potato peeler!

COOKING:

The stamens can be dried and made into a fragrant herbal tea called liánhuā cha (蓮花茶) in Chinese, or (particularly in Vietnam) used to impart a scent to tea leaves. The lotus seeds or nuts (called liánzĭ, 蓮子; or xian liánzĭ, 鲜莲子, in Chinese) are quite versatile, and can be eaten raw or dried and popped like popcorn, phool makhana. They can also be boiled until soft and made into a paste, or boiled with dried longans and rock sugar to make a tong sui (sweet soup). Combined with sugar, lotus seed paste becomes one of the most common ingredient used in pastries such as mooncakes, daifuku, and rice flour pudding.

Japanese popular Renkon dishes:

lotus-root-nimono