• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • 2021Back up data and keep safe
        • Puzzle-answers-February-2021Puzzle Pages, March 2021: All the Answers!
        • Wedding BEATRICE CONTRINILove in the time of COVID
        • storage in singaporeWhy self storage might be just what you need!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Things to do with dogs in Singapore cute dogFun stuff do with your dogs in Singapore!
        • dog-friendly cafesDog-friendly restaurants, bars and cafés in Singapore
        • cdn.cliqueinc.com__posts__258676__june-horoscopes-2018-258676-1527175331570-image-dd084e9663a848659b54ab1d44e8913aYour Horoscopes for the Month of March!
        • The [Not-So] Convenience Store exhibition National Design CentreWhat’s on this week and beyond
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Kids scooters mini micro scooter 3in1 Deluxe Plus MixedWhere to buy kids’ scooters & more
        • Child with special needsOccupational Therapy for a Child with Special Needs
        • ServiceSchool activities with a lot of heart
        • kidsChildren’s shops & websites for kids’ clothes, toys etc.
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • Arete Culture Black and whtieNot quite a black and white
        • 2021Back up data and keep safe
        • interior decorating cushions for bedrooms5 home décor pieces you shouldn’t overlook
        • SONYHome News: décor, furniture and more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • hotel dealsTravel news + Hotel deals & new launches!
        • places to visit near SingaporeBest short breaks from Singapore
        • DuxtonBest hotels for a staycation in Singapore
        • family-friendly resort family vacation boat12 great spots for a family vacation
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • dog-friendly cafesDog-friendly restaurants, bars and cafés in Singapore
        • BaristaNew Nibbles: Foodie news!
        • Bars cheap drinksTop bars for cheap drinks in Singapore
        • best breakfast spots brunch cafe tiong bahru bakery diner19 of the best breakfast spots on the island!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • women's sandals in singaporeKeeping comfortable & cool!
        • looksmaxxing trend men aesthetic treatmentsMen – are you “looksmaxxing”?
        • RawbroguhtShopping in Singapore – Fashion News
        • ear piercing singaporeWhere to go to get your ears pierced
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • SParks activeHealth News: What’s up!
        • heavy periods menorrhagia treatmentHeavy periods: How your GP can help
        • comparing health insurance in Singapore doctor and coupleThree tips for comparing health insurance plans
        • COVID-19 vaccination vaccine doctor and womanFAQs about COVID-19 vaccinations
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home » Wine & Dine » Recipes & Classes » Local recipes: Cooking and eating lotus root

Local recipes: Cooking and eating lotus root

29th September 2016 by Expat Living 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/local-recipes-cooking-and-eating-lotus-root-in-singapore/

Beate Baldry forages for exciting Asian ingredients readily available in Singapore, to discover their traditional uses and ways to incorporate them into Western home cooking. This month’s special ingredient is lotus root (aka Indian lotus, sacred lotus or bean of India). Find out what it’s used for and how to cook it below (plus, see more great dishes to whip up here, chef).

Say hello to lotus root
Say hello to lotus root

 

What is it?
Lotus roots are rhizomes – large stems of waterborne plants, the flowers of which you may recognise as they are often used for religious purposes in Buddhist and Hindu cultures. The large stems resemble sausage links. They grow up to four feet in length and are most often a pale cream-beige colour.

The flavour
The white flesh of lotus root has a crunchy texture and a mild, sweet-starchy flavour similar to that of water chestnut. Once sliced, the lotus root reveals an aesthetically pleasing symmetrical pattern of holes (air canals) within the stem.

Where to find it?
Located in the vegetable section of supermarkets, lotus root is often sold still slightly muddy. Look for a firm and heavy stem with no cracks or cuts. Packages of prepared peeled and sliced lotus root in a solution of salted water can sometimes be found in the refrigerated section.

Uses
Lotus root can be eaten a number of ways, from raw to stir-fried, boiled, braised, steamed or deep-fried – even in savoury desserts. Almost all parts of the plant, from the root to the young flower stalks, petals and seeds can be cooked and eaten.

•Many Cantonese soups call for lotus root – when boiled the root turns an attractive pink hue (which then goes brown if it is cooked for too long).

•In Japan, lotus root is grated into soups, the stems are stuffed with miso-based fillings, and a classic pickle is made with lotus root and other vegetables.

•In India, the lotus root is quartered and used in stews and curries, pickled in vinegar, or salted, dried and fried to be served as a side dish.

•In Vietnam, lotus root is lightly blanched and used in salads as in the recipe below.

•The Chinese incorporate lotus powder in moon cakes and other pastries as well as using the root in soupy desserts.

•In Thailand, a refreshing dessert is made from lotus root simmered in syrup and served over crushed ice.

Lotus root soup
Lotus root soup

Health Benefits

•Lotus root provides a good source of fibre, vitamin C, and B complex vitamins and minerals.

•The Chinese classify lotus root as a “cooling” food, and it is eaten to “tonify” and restore balance to the body. It is said to be especially good for the spleen, heart and kidneys.

•Lotus root powder, which has been dried and ground, is supposed to have medicinal properties.

Cook it at home

Top Tip: To prepare, peel the stem and soak it in vinegar to ensure the pale flesh doesn’t brown.

Vietnamese lotus root salad
Vietnamese lotus root salad

RECIPE: Vietnamese Lotus Root Salad

This recipe is taken from Cooking with Asian Roots by Devagi Sanmugam and Christopher Tan (Marshall Cavendish Cuisine). The book encompasses explanations of and recipes for seventeen roots from the common beetroot and potato to more exotic roots like taro, ube and burdock.

This salad is a refreshing change from the usual stir-fried or mixed greens. For a more flavourful result, pour dressing over lotus root slices and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before topping with prawns and remaining ingredients to serve. This allows the dressing to better penetrate the lotus root.

Ingredients (serves 5)

•500 grams lotus root, washed and scrubbed clean

•300 grams cooked prawns, shelled but with tails left intact

•1 handful coriander leaves, chopped

•11 tablespoon Polygonum (laksa) leaves, finely chopped

•2 tablespoons crisp-fried shallots

Dressing

•1½ teaspoons salt

•3 tablespoons caster (superfine) sugar

•125ml lime juice

•2 teaspoons rice vinegar

•2 bird’s-eye chillies, finely chopped

•4 cloves garlic, peeled and pounded

•4 tablespoons fish sauce

Method

1.Boil the lotus root for five minutes, allow to cool, then slice thinly, crossways. Soak slices in water until needed.

2.Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

3.Drain lotus root well and arrange on a serving platter or divide among individual serving plates. Place prawns as desired on top.

4.Pour dressing over and sprinkle with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately.

 

Categories: Recipes & Classes Wine & Dine Tags: Lotus root

Expat Living

Expat Living has everything to help you make the most of living in Singapore! We've got information on neighbourhoods, things to do and see, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, furniture, finance, health and beauty. And more!

You May Also Like

chiffon cake recipe

Afternoon Tea – Pandan Chiffon Cake Recipe

Alcohol-free drinks to try!

little caesars pizza delivery order online singapore

5 things about Little Caesars Pizza Singapore

Primary Sidebar

Expat Living Singapore 🇸🇬

expatlivingsg

Open
Alcohol in Singapore is expensive, as you probably know… so we’ve have tracked down some great bars that will help you get more drinks for your dollar! 

Check out the awesome guide (link on our stories) for the best bars and restaurants across the island that offer cheap drinks or great happy hour deals. Go forth and be merry! And, for a date night with a view, check out our round-ups of rooftop bars and other cool bars around town all on our website!

Note: These promotions are subject to changes. Please visit the bar’s social media page or drop them a call to confirm the deals

https://expatliving.sg/top-40-bars-for-cheap-drinks-in-singapore/
Open
*** March Giveaway** Is your home ready for a refresh, but you aren’t sure where to begin? 

This could be your lucky day! Known for its luxurious and eclectic style, The Cinnamon Room offers an extensive collection of artisan-crafted home décor that’s bound to add a touch of flair to your space. The store’s popular signature hide rug collection is handmade using high-grade, ethically-sourced hides. They’re as durable as they are stylish – red wine and coffee stains simply wipe away, making these low-pile beauties an effortless solution for any area of the home.

This month, we’ll be selecting one special reader to enjoy a 90-minute home consultation with The Cinnamon Room’s founder and designer Visha Nelson. What’s more, you’ll also receive a $900 voucher to use towards a rug of your choice!

To stand a chance to win, all you need to do is follow us on Instagram (@expatlivingsg) and @thecinnamonroom and click below to enter or check out our stories for the link! expatliving.sg/wccr/

The competition closes on 31 March, so hurry and enter now!

#homedecor #rugs #beautifuldesign #singapore #awardwinning #expatlivingsg #thecinnamonroom #hollandvillageshowroom
Open
Check out what's inside our March issue! To get a copy delivered to you, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/mag/ig

In this issue, we feature our best finds to make your bedroom look and feel great. Check out two renovated homes, get an insider’s view of Siglap, and discover useful tips and trends on the property rental market. There's plenty more too, including delicious Mexican food, top quality meat, cool fashion, fab facials and fragrances to try. 

🎁 Plus, there's a bonus mini guide on Preschools!
Open
We think home-grown label Love, Bonito’s fourth loungewear collection is super cute! 

Whether you’re in bed, at home lounging, or out and about, find comfort in effortless pieces of super-soft separates and one-pieces.

Get the complete package with matching accessories - plush slippers as the latest addition - and twinning pieces for your 
mini-mes.

Love, Bonito Loungewear is priced between S$9.90 to S$41.90 and available from lovebonito.com and in-stores island wide
Open
Photographs are some of our most prized possessions so we wanted you to meet Tekkie Help experts Sarah and Bo who are passionate about helping people keep photos (and data) safe. 

They feel that organising, managing and protecting our digital photos should be a top priority. Their number one piece of advice...create a centralised location where photos are stored in full-size resolution. 

Click on our stories for a handy guide to creating a Digital Photo Hub of your own 📷
Open
** Friday Giveaway**

Are you looking to revitalise your skin? 🤔
Well, today is your lucky day! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
We have TWO Visible-repair Replenishing Eye Cream and Galvanic Intensifier sets from @flesette to give away!

Bring the spa to your home with this great bundle, which consists of two tubes of eye cream and the reusable Intensifier, which attaches to the eye cream and gently vibrates and massages the thin, sensitive skin around the eyes, improving absorption and helping to turn back the clock! 

Use it to combat any or all of the below:

PREMATURE AGEING ⏳
 
DULL SKIN 😑
 
FINE LINES + WRINKLES 👵🏻

EYE BAGS + DARK CIRCLES 🐼

How to join? 
1. Follow @expatliving and @flesette 
2. Tag a friend who you want to give the other set to 
3. Go to expatliving.sg/VRRECGIS and enter your details 

Giveaway ends 4 March. Good luck! 
 
*
*
*
*
*
#expatlivingsg 
#youthfulskin 
#Flesette 
#singapore 
#expatlife 
#fridaygiveaway 
#beautifulskin
Open
No doubt you’ve been out walking around Singapore more than usual lately and maybe you’ve noticed more plants than you do when zipping by in a car, but what are they exactly? 

There are so many different types of flowers, trees and other plants in Singapore – some are native, but heaps have been imported over the years. 

Take a look on our stories for a handful of pretty pics and a cool website link from NParks to satisfy your curiosity.

Here are some interesting facts about plant numbers in Singapore...

• 4712 flora species
• 88 tree families
• 1,689 tree species
• 259 heritage trees

🌸 🌳 🪴
Open
Order your copy of the March issue here 👉 expatliving.sg/mag/ig

Inside, we feature our best finds to make your bedroom look and feel great. Check out two renovated homes, get an insider’s view of Siglap, and discover useful tips and trends on the property rental market and plenty more, including delicious Mexican food, top quality meat, cool fashion, fab facials and fragrances to try. 

📕 Plus, there's a bonus mini guide on Preschools!
Open
Now facelifts can be non-surgical and non-invasive which we love.

This facelift in Singapore uses painless High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).

How it works.....
HIFU uses ultrasound technology to reach three different depths of the skin, in order to deliver focused beams of 60 to 70 degrees Celsius without disrupting the skin surface. These beams will melt the fats in the face, while tightening the skin and boosting collagen production; this allows your skin to continually lift and tone after the treatment. 

We thought this was super cool so we tried it out. Read the full review on our stories
Open
If you’ve just arrived (or been here a while) and wondering where to buy furniture in Singapore, we’ve pulled together this huge list of the best furniture shops on the red dot for you to start on! 

This comprehensive guide to Singapore furniture stores covers all areas, budgets and decorating tastes. 

There’s furniture shops for Asian, contemporary, chic, recycled and vintage furniture. So, whether you’re after a good sofa, antique lamp, modern dining table or a cute kid’s bed, grab a coffee and get scrolling via the link on our stories
Open
** Friday Giveaway**

Win a fabulous Glam Makeover & a 1 to 1 Makeup Workshop worth $350! 

How to join? 🤔

👉🏻Follow @expatlivingag and @falakamaar 
👉🏻tag the person who you want to win- it can also be you! 
It’s that easy! 

Falak Amaar is a Singapore based MUA trained and certified by celebrity Makeup artists (for Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande to name a few) Mario Dedivanovic and Samer Khouzami (aka the king of contouring)

She loves to share the techniques she has learnt from the Makeup Maestros in 1 to 1 as well as group makeup workshops and uses them to create the most natural to the most transformative looks.

She regularly posts videos for simple makeup tips and tricks on her Instagram & Facebook Page along with the stunning makeup looks she creates for her clients.
*
*
*
*
*
#makeup
#Falakaar 
#expatlivingsg
#singapore 
#expats
#beautifulmakeup 
#makeupartistsg
Open
In Singapore, the year-round summer weather means you can’t do without swimwear, and you’ll need a few. It’s a hard life! 

Whether you are wondering where to buy a bikini or a full swimsuit, or even something more sporty for swimming laps there’s a good range of shopping options. 

The round up (link on our stories) includes the best online and physical stores to buy swimwear for women of all shapes and sizes 👙
Open
After four years in Kampong Bahru, local eyelash extensions studio The Lash Company has shifted to a bigger and brighter space in Holland Village! We visited the new salon to review their eyelash extensions service.

Read the reviews on our stories
Open
Looking for a house in Singapore? 

We asked the Expat Team at real estate company Knight Frank to give us some insider tips for a home search and to reflect on some of the property trends arising from the COVID-19 situation. 

What’s the current situation if you want to lease an apartment, and how difficult is it to find a house to rent now. 

Read the full story on our stories now
Open
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Expat Living Team ❤️

All we really need is love, but if you do fancy something else then we have fun trivia, gift ideas and some lovely dining options on our stories
Open
🏮 Gong Xi Fa Cai to all our friends celebrating Chinese New Year!
Open
What would make a doctor like DR MENKA GUPTA transform herself into a functional medicine practitioner and nutritionist in Singapore? 

Her lifelong passion for healing is the answer – and she hasn’t looked back. Born and raised in Lucknow, India, she knew from the age of three that she wanted to be a doctor. After years of working as a specialist in the fields of gastroenterology, general medicine and gynaecology in leading hospitals in the UK, India and Singapore, she joined the Institute for Functional Medicine in 2012, and established Nutra Nourish here five years ago. 

Dr Menka is the the only IFM certified practitioner (IFMCP) in South Asia (there are less than 1,000 globally) 

Read the full article in our stories
Open
Noticed all the lanterns and bright lights across Chinatown? 

Yep, it’s that time of the year again! Chinese New Year is in full force in Singapore, so we’ve listed some great events and handy tips for you to experience a truly authentic, fun and prosperous start to the Year of the Ox 🐂 🍊 🧧 

Check out our guide (link on stories) of what to do (and also what not to do!)
Open
Striking a stylish downward dog in yoga or a perfect squat when working out needn’t only be about flexibility. 

Now there’s a selection of trendy and stylish active wear to inspire us at the same time! 

Yumi Active offers a range of uber-sleek, re-imagined performance gear. With active wear with gorgeous designs, bold prints and ethnic motifs, the brand is certainly getting us motivated with the right kit to get fit

Check them out on our stories
Open
Our CNY Sale starts today! Grab a year's subscription for just $29 (usually $82.80). Visit 👉 expatliving.sg/sale/IG 

🎁 If you'd like to buy this as a gift, go to expatliving.sg/sale/gift/IG

You'll get free access to the digital edition on the Magzter app too!

.
#expatlivingsg #expatliving #sgexpat #expatsg #igsg #sgdining #sghome #sgsales
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2021 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.