How to Make Hana Renkon
Learn how to make Hana Renkon, or flower-shaped lotus root. This Japanese cutting technique creates decorative slices of the root vegetable to use in the Osechi Ryori meal on Japanese New Year and other celebratory occasions.
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Materials
Instructions
- Cut the lotus root crosswise into a 2-inch piece so it’s easy to work with. Next, carve out a V-shaped notch lengthwise between two holes along the length of the root.
- Continue cutting lengthwise notches between the holes until you've cut around the entire outside of the root. The cross section of your lotus root should now resemble a flower.
- Then, cut the root crosswise into ¼-inch (0.6-mm) slices.
- Once you’ve sliced the lotus root, add the slices to a bowl of vinegared water (1 tsp rice vinegar and 2 cups water). Soak the lotus root slices for 5 minutes to prevent them from changing color and to remove the astringent taste. The hana renkon are now ready to use in your favorite recipe.
