This Japanese-style lotus root salad is rich and creamy, easy to make, and packed full of flavors. It can be made ahead of time, and goes well with any kind of dish!
This salad is simple yet delicious with a fun mix of textures and flavors. It has crunchy lotus root slices, carrots, and smoked ham tossed in creamy mayonnaise based dressing. There is tamari soy sauce to boost the umami, and a touch of sugar to balance out the flavors.
The unique pattern on the lotus root holds up the dressing well, making all the flavors burst in your mouth. It is addictively delicious that the entire bowl goes empty so fast even when I serve it as a side dish!
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What is Lotus Root?
Lotus root is a root vegetable with a unique lace like pattern of holes. It is a staple ingredient in Asian cuisine, and is often used for stir-fries, stews, soups and even for healthy snacks. It is starchy and crunchy with a mild, slightly sweet and earthy flavor.
Although it may look foreign to you at first, it is very easy to prepare. All it takes is to peel off the skin, and slice or chop up.
One thing to keep in mind is cut lotus root browns once they come into contact with air, so it is recommended to soak in a bowl of water until ready to use. Soaking also helps to remove impurities and reduce the bitterness.
You will love this recipe because...
- It goes great with any kind of dishes.
- It is super easy to make in under 20 minutes
- It can be made ahead of time - Also works great as a meal prep option.
- It is such a unique, pretty salad!
Ingredients for this recipe
- Lotus root
- Rice vinegar - Or white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- Carrot - Peeled and cut into matchsticks
- Smoked ham - Sliced thinly
- Mayonnaise
- Sugar
- Tamari soy sauce
- Salt and pepper
Toppings
- Thinly sliced scallions
- Toasted white sesame
How to make lotus root salad
1. Prepare the lotus root. Peel the lotus root and slice very thinly. If the lotus root is thick, slice lengthwise first then slice. Fill some water in a large bowl and soak the slices as soon as you slice to prevent discoloring.
2. Cook the lotus root. Bring a potful of water to a boil. Add in the vinegar and drained lotus root slices. Cook for 2 minutes or until slightly softer but still crunchy. Drain well with a strainer and set aside.
3. Make the dressing. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sugar and tamari soy sauce together. Mix well.
4. Toss. Add the lotus root, carrots, ham into the bowl and toss. Adjust the flavor with salt and pepper.
5. Serve. Garnish with scallions and sesame.
Frequently asked questions
You can skip the ham to make this dish vegetarian. Since ham provides saltiness, you may need to adjust the flavor with extra salt. You may also use other cured meat such as cooked bacon, or prosciutto instead.
It removes the excess starch in the lotus root and brings out a crunchier texture. I highly recommend adding vinegar whenever you would like to use lotus root for salads.
Lotus root salad can be covered tightly and refrigerated for up to 5 days. I do not recommend freezing as the texture in the vegetables change significantly.
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Recipe
Lotus Root Salad
Ingredients
- 10 ounces lotus root approx 1 large segment
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white vinegar/ apple cider vinegar
- 1 medium carrot peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 3 slices smoked ham sliced thinly
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons tamari soy sauce
- Salt to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
For toppings (optional)
- Thinly sliced scallions
- Toasted white sesame
Instructions
- Peel the lotus root and slice very thinly. If the lotus root is thick, slice lengthwise first then slice. Fill some water in a large bowl and soak the slices as soon as you slice to prevent discoloration.
- Bring a potful of water (about 6 cups) to a boil. Add in the vinegar and drained lotus root slices. Cook for 2 minutes or until slightly softer but still crunchy. Drain well with a strainer and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sugar and tamari soy sauce together. Mix well.
- Add the lotus root, carrots, ham into the bowl and toss. Adjust the flavor with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with scallions and sesame.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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