Nowadays, people are paying more attention to their eating habits, and it’s not just about satisfying hunger but also about enjoying delicious and aesthetically pleasing dishes. Hence, the art of food decoration has emerged as an essential aspect of culinary culture. Today, let’s explore four methods to carve vegetables into lotus flowers, adding a touch of elegance to your vegan meals during the full moon and Vu Lan festivals.
1.
Lotus Flower Carved from Onion
Ingredients and Tools for Carving an Onion Lotus Flower
- 1 large onion
- 1 small carrot
- Carving knife
Steps to Carve an Onion Lotus Flower
First, peel and wash the onion, and peel and rinse the carrot, letting them air dry.
Peel and Wash the Onion
Then, divide the onion into eight equal parts, using a knife to make incisions along the length of the onion, and carefully separate each section. Ensure that you separate one layer of the onion at a time, leaving about 1 cm intact near the root end.
Separate the First Layer of Petals
Repeat this process, separating the layers in a staggered manner until you reach the core of the onion.
Separate the Next Layers of Petals
Note:
Ensure that you separate the layers in a staggered manner to create the appearance of a blooming flower.
As you go deeper into the onion, use a gentler touch to avoid breaking the outer layers.
Next, cut off half of the onion’s core horizontally. Create small circular holes in the remaining core using a knife, and carve a small piece of carrot to place inside as the stamen of the lotus flower. And there you have it—a lovely onion lotus flower to adorn your dish!
Separate the Remaining Petals and Add the Carrot Stamen
2. Carving a Lotus Flower from a Tomato
Ingredients and Tools for Carving a Tomato Lotus Flower
- 1 large tomato
- Carving knife
Steps to Carve a Tomato Lotus Flower
Start by rinsing the tomato and letting it air dry.
Carving a Lotus Flower from a Tomato
From the top of the tomato, use your carving knife to make a gentle vertical incision, as the skin of the tomato is very thin. Divide the tomato into two halves, stopping about 2 cm away from the stem.
Cut the Tomato in Half
On each half of the tomato, make two diagonal incisions, ensuring they intersect at the point where you initially placed the knife. This will result in six evenly divided sections of the tomato.
Tomato Divided into Six Parts
Gently separate the layers of tomato skin to form the petals of the flower. As you separate each petal, gently curve the tip to give it a more natural appearance.
Repeat this process for all six petals.
Separate the Layers of Tomato Skin
Note
Avoid cutting too close to the stem, as this will cause the flower to open too wide and lose its aesthetic appeal.
Cut another layer of the inner flesh to create an additional row of petals. This row should be staggered in relation to the first row. Cut until you reach the seeds inside. Gently separate the petals, and behold—a beautiful tomato lotus flower!
The Result – A Beautiful Tomato Lotus Flower
3. Carving a Lotus Flower from a Cucumber and Tomato
Carving a Lotus Flower from a Cucumber and Tomato
For this method, follow the steps for carving a lotus flower from a tomato as described above. For the final step, make three semi-circular slices of cucumber of appropriate length. Carefully insert each cucumber slice between the petals of the carved tomato.
Insert Cucumber Slices Between Tomato Petals
Note
It is recommended to use only three cucumber slices, inserting them in a staggered manner between the tomato petals. Using too many cucumber slices may cause the petals to spread apart, resulting in a less attractive final product.
4. Carving a Lotus Flower from a Kiwi Fruit
Carving a Lotus Flower from a Kiwi
Ingredients and Tools for Carving a Kiwi Lotus Flower
- 1 large kiwi fruit
- Carving knife
Steps to Carve a Kiwi Lotus Flower
Start by rinsing the kiwi and cutting off both ends. Then, use your knife to create a zigzag pattern along the length of the kiwi, dividing it into two equal halves. Insert the knife about 2 cm deep to separate the halves effectively.
Divide the Kiwi into Two Equal Halves
Note:
When creating the zigzag pattern, adjust the size of the cuts according to the size of the kiwi for a more proportional flower.
On each cut edge, make a gentle incision from the top, about 2 mm long, just enough to pierce through the thin skin of the kiwi.
Make a Gentle Incision on the Cut Edge
Make gentle cuts from the top to separate the thin skin from the fruit, leaving a small portion attached at the bottom. Adjust the petals to your desired shape, and your kiwi lotus flower is ready!
Adjust the Petals and Finish the Kiwi Lotus Flower
It’s not difficult to transform simple dishes into something special and artistic. We hope that these tips on carving lotus flowers from vegetables will inspire you to create beautiful and tasty meals. Happy cooking!
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The cucumber, also known as the cucumber, is a versatile vegetable that can be easily prepared or consumed raw. It is also commonly used for vegetable carving to decorate dishes. With just a few simple steps, you can create beautiful cucumber flowers to adorn your culinary creations.
