The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Carving: 4 Ways to Create Stunning Lotus Designs for Vegan Feast

Vegetable carving is an art that elevates the beauty and appeal of any dish. Join us as we explore 4 unique ways to carve lotus flowers from vegetables to adorn your vegan feast on the upcoming full moon and Ullambana Day.

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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 onionLotus 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 onionPeel 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 petalsSeparate 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 petalsSeparate 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 stamenSeparate 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 tomatoCarving 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 halfCut 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 partsTomato 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 skinSeparate 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 flowerThe Result – A Beautiful Tomato Lotus Flower

3. Carving a Lotus Flower from a Cucumber and Tomato

Carving a lotus flower from a cucumber and tomatoCarving 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 petalsInsert 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 kiwiCarving 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 halvesDivide 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 edgeMake 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 flowerAdjust 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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