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Crispy, sticky, and the perfectΒ amount of spicy, this Korean-style crispy lotus stem has an addictive crunch & comes covered in glossy gochujang glaze that makes every bite impossible to stop at one.
Lotus stem, also known as lotus root, might not be something you cook often, but this dish might just change that. Every bite is a mix of crunch, spice, and a glossy red glaze that makes it oh-so-special. Thereβs a little heat, a touch of sweetness, and a whole lot of flavor that sneaks up on you in the best way.
If you want to bring a surprise element to your Diwali party table with familiar flavours in new textures, then crispy lotus stem recipe is it. Make it a part of your charcuterie board, or serve it as is with some mayo or my garlicky yogurt dip for an appetiser that truly feels like the star of the evening!Β Β
Lotus Stem: The hero of the dish. Thinly sliced for even cooking. You can find it fresh or frozen in most Indian or Asian stores, both online and offline (I get mine from BlinkIt).
Oil: A neutral one like sunflower or canola oil.
Aromatics: Finely chopped ginger and garlic for flavor and aroma.Β
Sauce Base: Seasame seeds, gochujang (Korean chilli paste), gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes), soy sauce, and oyster sauce bring in that signature Korean heat and umami depth.
Sweetness & Balance: A drizzle of honey rounds out the spice, while a splash of water helps create that glossy, sticky coating.
Garnish: Spring onion greens for crunch, freshness, and a little visual pop right before serving.
Richaβs Top Tips
Slice lotus stem evenly: Thin, uniform slices make all the difference. Thicker ones stay chewy instead of crisping up.
Dry well: After soaking, pat the lotus stems completely dry so they donβt steam in the air fryer. This is an important to step to achieve crispy results.
Donβt overcrowd: Give the slices space in the basket so hot air can move around freely.
Balance the sauce: Taste before adding all the gochujang and gochugaru. Adjust spice and sweetness to your liking.
Toss just before serving: Add the sauce only when youβre ready to eat, so the stems stay crisp and donβt go soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lotus stem?
Lotus stem or lotus root is the edible root of the lotus plant. It has a mild flavor and a crisp, slightly starchy texture that stays crunchy even after cooking.
What does lotus stem taste like?
Itβs mildly sweet, with a crunch similar to water chestnuts or bamboo shoots. When fried or stir-fried, it develops a lovely nutty bite.
My lotus stem turned chewy. What went wrong?
They were likely sliced too thick or not air-fried long enough. Keep the slices thin and dry them well before cooking for maximum crispiness.
Can I make this without gochujang?
Yes! Mix red chilli paste with a little soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar for a quick substitute. It wonβt taste exactly the same but will still give you a bold, flavorful glaze.
Storage Tips
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The lotus stem will soften slightly but still taste great.
Freezer: Not recommended, as the sauce and texture of lotus stem donβt hold well once thawed.
Reheating: Reheat in an air fryer or a hot pan for a few minutes to bring back some crispness. Avoid microwaving, as it makes the stems soggy.
Make ahead: You can air fry the lotus stem slices in advance and store them separately. Toss them in the sauce just before serving to keep them crunchy.
Serving Ideas
These crispy lotus stems are great on their own, but even better when you pair them with the right dishes. Try one of these easy combos:
With Vegetable Hakka Noodles β The sticky, spicy glaze on the lotus stems is perfect with these wok-tossed noodles.
With Veg Fried Rice β The mild, savoury flavours of fried rice balance the bold spice of the lotus stem.
With Jeera Rice β A mild, aromatic side that complements the bold Korean flavours.
With Bibim Guksu β For a full-on Korean-inspired meal with layers of flavour.
With Mango Sago β End on a sweet note with this creamy, tropical dessert that cools the palate.
With Indian Breads β Explore a mix of festive flatbreads that pair beautifully with spicy starters like this.
Customisation Ideas
Add crunch with peanuts β Toss in roasted peanuts at the end for extra texture and a nutty twist.
Make it milder β Use fewer green chillies or replace gochugaru with Kashmiri chilli powder for a gentler heat that still keeps the colour.
Add sesame oil β A small drizzle at the end deepens the nutty flavour and adds a beautiful gloss to the sauce.
Try a fusion twist β Replace gochujang with schezwan sauce for an Indo-Chinese version thatβs just as bold.
Use different veggies β If lotus stem isnβt easily available, try the same recipe with baby corn, mushrooms, or cauliflower florets for a similar crisp bite.
Did You Know?
Lotus stems are natureβs own little engineering marvels. Each slice has a honeycomb of air channels that help the plant breathe underwater, and those same pockets give it that irresistible crunch when cooked. The stem stays crisp even after frying or simmering, which is why chefs across Asia love using it for texture. Plus, lotus stems have been part of traditional medicine for centuries, said to cool the body and boost digestion.
So go ahead and make this crispy Korean-style lotus stem at home. And if you try it, donβt forget to tag me on Instagram @my_foodstory so I can see your beautiful plates!
Crispy, crunchy, sweet, sticky, and spicy, this Korean Crispy Lotus Stem is a medley of flavors and textures that come together quickly and alleviate a boring meal in minutes!
Lentil trail mix is a super delicious snack, and here I will show you three ways to make it! Peanut gochujang, Indian Chivda, Doritos Nacho flavor! This high protein, savory granola is easy and fun to make and a perfect breakfast or snack. (16 grams of protein and fiber per serving!)
When I shared my red lentil granola recipe, quite a few of you asked for a savory version, and today Iβm sharing three different ways to make savory lentil granola/trail mix! Make all three flavors of this delicious lentil trail mix, or triple your favorite flavoring and make one big batch.
Why three ways? Because I just couldnβt decide between these amazing flavors: Indian-spiced, peanut gochujang, and nacho spice. So, I decided to let you choose for yourself!
This trail mix/savory granola recipe uses split red lentils (aka masoor dal) as the base. You cook the red lentils on the stovetop until they are just al dente, and they roast up to be light and crisp in the oven with your seasonings of choice.Β
The result is a protein-packed snack that is absolutely full of flavor, no matter which seasoning mix you choose! A serving of this trail mix has around 16 grams of protein and 16 grams of fiber. You can amp up the protein even more by folding in hemp seeds into the granola once it has finished roasting.
The Indian-spiced lentils are inspired by Indian chivda, which usually uses rice flakes or other flaked or puffed grains. It is spicy savory with some balancing sweet from raisins or dates and is fantastically delicious!Β
For the nacho spiced savory lentil trail mix, a took inspiration from my nacho cheese granola bars. Itβs your favorite snacking chip in crisp trail mix form! you can adjust it to your flavor preference. Add more cayenne for more heat or more nutritional yeast for more cheesiness.
If you love gochujang, definitely try the peanut gochujang lentil trail mix which has an amazing savory-spicy flavor with a hint of sweetness. It pairs so well with the crunchy peanuts! Comment below on which one will you try first!
Why Youβll Love Lentil Trail Mix
protein- and fiber-packed breakfast or snack with 16 grams each of protein and fiber per serving!
make all three flavors or choose from 3 amazing flavors: Indian-spiced, peanut gochujang, or nacho cheese
deep flavors and incredible textures
naturally gluten-free with soy-free and nut-free options included
Super delicious gochujang tacos with creamy, crunchy yum sauce slaw are incredibly easy to make without a ton of ingredients. Crispy gochujang tofu, creamy gochujang slaw dressing, sweet spicy maple gochujang drizzle! Triple gochujang!
These tacos! They celebrate gochujang in a way youβve never experienced! Crispy gochujang tofu! Creamy gochujang sauce for the slaw and for dressing! And a sweet spicy gochujang glaze to finish! Triple gochujang.
These tacos are super delicious and amazing! They come together fairly quickly and use many same ingredients in the different components of the taco. Despite that, thereβs so much overall texture and flavor that theyβre fabulous to whip up and enjoy on any weekday or on the weekend.
I love to make this tofu. Itβs just super flavorful. Youβll want to double or triple the tofu recipe, so youβll have leftover tofu handy to use in salads, wraps, sandwiches, bowls, etc. throughout the week.
Gochujang tacos are very simple to make. We take some tofu and marinate it in a gochujang, ginger-garlic, soy, and maple mixture, and then bake it.
Meanwhile, make the crunchy, creamy slaw. We make a quick, creamy dressing using gochujang again along with some lime juice, maple syrup, and non-dairy yogurt or vegan mayo. You use that dressing to make the slaw and to dress the tacos later on, so you donβt have to make multiple dressings.
I usually like to finish it off with a gochujang-maple drizzle. You donβt have to do this, but it adds some extra heat and a flavor punchβso definitely try to make that one as well.
These tacos are fantastic when the slaw is fresh and crunchy, the tofu is spicy and chewy and crisp! The creamy dressing adds richness, and the gochujang drizzle adds sweet heat. The pickled jalapeΓ±os bring a tangy heat that ties it all together.
Why Youβll Love Gochujang Tacos
crispy gochujang tofu with creamy, spicy, crunchy slaw in warm tortillas
simple ingredients β slaw and tacos use the same sauce!
versatile! Use the tofu to make tacos or to top salads or bowl meals or in sandwiches or wraps!
naturally nut-free with gluten-free and soy-free options
Korean Pork & Kimchi Burger (+Others!): I am a big fan of Kimchi and have had an idea in my head for a while to use it with a burger, I was going to use a beef burger but the more I thought about it I wanted to make a Korean Pork & Kimchi Burger. [β¦]