Delicious and Easy-to-Make Dishes with Lotus Stem

Explore these delicious and easy-to-make dishes featuring water lily stems:

1. Vietnamese Water Lily Stem Salad

Ingredients:

– A bunch of water lily stems

– Vinegar, sugar, lime, chili, and Vietnamese coriander

– Roasted peanuts

– Grilled rice crackers

– Vietnamese fermented bean curd dip

Instructions:

Peel and cut the water lily stems into 4-5 cm pieces. Place them in a clean bowl and gently squeeze with your hands, being careful not to crush them.

In a small bowl, mix two spoons of sugar with vinegar and stir until dissolved. Pour this mixture over the water lily stems, add some finely chopped Vietnamese coriander, and mix well.

Serve this refreshing salad with a side of Vietnamese fermented bean curd dip or soy sauce for a tasty treat.

2. Water Lily Stem and Shrimp Salad

Ingredients:

– Water lily stems: 300g

– Bean sprouts and carrots: 100g each

– Shrimp: 200g

– Pork belly: 150g

– Peanuts, green onions

– Fresh herbs, chili

– Seasonings: fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, etc.

Instructions:

Step 1: Clean and peel the water lily stems, cutting them into bite-sized pieces. You can leave them whole or halve them. Soak the stems in salted boiling water that has been allowed to cool.

Step 2: Grate the carrots and add them to the water lily stems along with the bean sprouts. Soak for about 10 minutes, then drain and set aside.

Step 3: Boil the pork belly until cooked, then let it cool and cut into thick strips.

Step 4: Steam the shrimp and peel them. Roast the peanuts, remove their skins, and crush them lightly.

Step 5: Finely chop the chili and herbs, ensuring the herbs are well-drained before chopping.

Step 6: In a bowl, mix fish sauce, vinegar, and sugar to taste. Add the chopped chili to this mixture.

Step 7: In a clean bowl, combine the shrimp, pork belly, water lily stems, bean sprouts, and carrots. Pour the dressing over and mix well. Let the flavors marry for about 5-7 minutes, then add the fresh herbs to the salad.

Step 8: Serve the salad on a plate and sprinkle with the crushed peanuts.

3. Sour Soup with Water Lily Stems and Fish

Ingredients:

– Water lily stems: peeled and cut into pieces

– Fish (cleaned)

– Sour fruits (like tamarind or green mango)

– Tomato, rice paddy herb, spring onion, sawtooth herb, and chili (optional)

Instructions:

Step 1: Boil some water and add the sour fruits until they soften. Mash and strain the mixture to create a sour base for your soup.

Step 2: In a separate pot, bring the sour broth to a boil and add the tomatoes. Season to taste, then add the fish. After about 5-6 minutes, when the fish is cooked, add the water lily stems and additional seasonings. Once it boils again, turn off the heat and serve.

This sour soup is best enjoyed hot with rice or rice noodles.