how to cook lotus root

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Crisp yet tender with bursts of sweet and savory flavors, Kinpira Renkon, or Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry, is a classic home-cooked side dish.

A round colorful Japanese bowl containing Kinpira Renkon (Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry).

One of the reasons I love about Japanese home-cooked meals is that root vegetables are used in a whole range of dishes. From gobo (burdock root), renkon (lotus root), satoimo (taro root), daikon radish, sweet potatoes to yam, each one of them has its unique flavor profiles and nutrient qualities. When it comes to a simple weeknight side dish, my favorite is this Kinpira Renkon or Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry.

I absolutely love the texture of crunchy root vegetables. They can be prepared in every way you can imagine – roasted, stir fried, pan fried, deep fried, or even steamed. To me, they are humble vegetables with lots of potentials and I love to find the best ways to enjoy them.

A round blue Japanese bowl containing Kinpira Renkon (Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry).

**What is Kinpira Renkon ?**

I gave Kinpira Renkon an English name "Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry". It is not a direct translation of what Kinpira Renkon is, but I assume people may search for the recipe using similar terms in English.

The actual name, Kinpira Renkon (金平蓮根 or きんぴら蓮根), comes from the cooking technique "Kinpira," which is a Japanese cooking style of "saute and simmer."

This technique is commonly used to cook root vegetables. You might have seen or tried my Kinpira Gobo recipe where julienned gobo (burdock root) and carrots are sautéed and simmered down in a seasoned sauce.

Other ingredients that are commonly used for Kinpira cooking technique include root vegetables, seaweed like hijiki, tofu or wheat gluten (fu麩), and meat (chicken, pork, beef). They are first stir fried and then simmered in a soy sauce and mirin seasonings, and often given a little spice treatment with thinly sliced chili peppers.

A round colorful Japanese bowl containing Kinpira Renkon (Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry).

Slight Variations You Can Make with Kinpira Renkon

This Kinpira Renkon recipe is pretty standard throughout the different regions in Japan. There may be some slight variations, but the cooking method and ingredients stay pretty much the same. You can, however, switch things up a little with some of my suggestions below:

Add in other root vegetables like carrot or gobo (burdock root) to give the dish a dimension of textures and flavors
Add konnyaku to add a chewy texture
If you are a spice fiend, feel free to go a little heavy with the red chili peppers
Change the thickness or shapes (rounds, semi-circles, quarters) of the lotus root for contrasting textures
Skip sesame seeds

A round blue Japanese bowl containing Kinpira Renkon (Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry).

Benefits of Eating Lotus Root

Lotus root, as the name implies, is the root of the lotus flower. This amazing plant is a much revered vegetable in Southern and Eastern Asia, especially in the Chinese, Korean and Japanese cuisines. It is used as an ingredient in soups, or deep-fried, stir-fried, braised, or cooked in many other interesting ways.

Not only it is crunchy with a creamy and mild sweet starchy texture, lotus root has such a fun and interesting appearance that it adds to the presentation of a dish. Lotus root is believed to have many great many health benefits, including its ability to improve digestion, reduce cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and boost the immune system. Any of my Chinese readers would tell you that lotus root has a "cooling effect" on the blood, which is useful to help restore the balance of the bodies. There is no reason not to appreciate what this vegetable has to offer.

Where to Buy Lotus Roots

You can find lotus roots at your local Asian or Japanese grocery stores. They may be sold fresh in the fall when they are in season. Otherwise, they often come in a vacuum pack year-round. Look for the ones that have a lighter tan color and nice clean smell. They should be heavy and firm to touch, with no bruise spots around.

Healthy Vegetable Dish for the Family

If trying out more new vegetables is one of your New Year's resolutions, I hope you give lotus root a try and kinpira renkon is a great recipe to start with. Easy to prepare, delicious and healthy, you will have fun introducing this lovely vegetable to your family.

Other Recipes Similar to Kinpira Renkon that You Can Try

Kinpira Gobo

Kinpira Gobo (Burdock Root)

Hijiki Salad | Just One Cookbook

Hijiki Seaweed Salad

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A round colorful Japanese bowl containing Kinpira Renkon (Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry).

Kinpira Renkon (Lotus Root)

Crisp yet tender with bursts of sweet and savory flavors, Kinpira Renkon, or Japanese Lotus Root Stir Fry, is a classic home-cooked side dish.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Servings: 4 (as side dish)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

▢ 8 oz lotus root (renkon) (3", 7.6 cm)
▢ 1 cup water (for soaking lotus root)
▢ 1 tsp rice vinegar (for soaking lotus root)
▢ 1 dried red chili pepper
▢ 1 Tbsp sesame oil (roasted)
▢ ½ Tbsp toasted white sesame seeds

Seasonings

▢ 1 Tbsp sake
▢ 1 Tbsp mirin
▢ ½ Tbsp sugar
▢ 1 Tbsp soy sauce (gluten-free soy sauce for GF)

Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.

Gather all the ingredients.
Peel the lotus root and cut in half.
Thinly slice the lotus root. In a bowl, add 1 tsp rice vinegar and 1 cup water.
Soak the sliced lotus root in vinegar water for 3-5 minutes to prevent discoloration. Then drain the water well.
Cut the end of red chili pepper to remove the seeds, then thinly slice into rounds. If you want this dish to be spicy, keep the seeds.
In a large frying pan, heat the sesame oil on medium heat and add lotus root to stir fry.
Once the lotus root is almost translucent (80% cooked), add sake, mirin, and sugar. Let the alcohol evaporate (until no more alcohol smell).
Add in the red chili pepper and soy sauce and stir to combine. We add soy sauce last, as it can be easily burnt.
When the liquid is almost gone, add sesame seeds and toss all together. Serve hot, lukewarm, or chilled. You can store in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Calories: 102 kcal · Carbohydrates: 13 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 4 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Sodium: 263 mg · Potassium: 323 mg · Fiber: 3 g · Sugar: 3 g · Vitamin A: 33 IU · Vitamin C: 25 mg · Calcium: 36 mg · Iron: 1 mg

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: kinpira, lotus root

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