Air Fried Lotus Root : with garlic ginger sauce
This air fried lotus root recipe is the perfect side dish for your next Asian inspired meal! Thinly sliced lotus root, air fried to perfection and tossed in a sweet and savory, garlic ginger sauce.
This air fried lotus root recipe is incredibly delicious and so simple to make! Not only is this dish full of incredible flavor….it’s savory, it’s sweet, and full of that umami flavor that we all love and crave. But this recipe can be prepped and ready in under 20 minutes!
Lotus root is naturally low in calories and full of nutrients making it the perfect addition to your diet! Serve this air fried lotus root with garlic ginger sauce as a side dish at your next dinner party, along side dumplings or toss it over rice for a quick, healthy meal!
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Air Fried Lotus Root
What is lotus root
Lotus root is the edible stem of a lotus plant. When sliced, it has a beautiful, floral, geometric pattern that really brings a unique, whimsical aesthetic to your plate. Not only does it look cool, but it tastes delicious as well! Lotus root has a mild sweetness and a crunchy, starchy texture.
Lotus root is a perfect snack or side dish all on it’s own. You can toss it in a sauce to really bring up the flavor. Lotus root is also an excellent addition for soups, salads, and stir-fry dishes.
Lotus root brings more than just texture and flavor to a dish. Its also a great source of nutrients! Lotus root is an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C and victim B6.
Ways to make Air Fried Lotus Root
When it comes to air fried lotus root, you have options! You can make air fried lotus root thin and crispy, like a potato chip. You can make air fried lotus root thick cut, which makes the perfect meal or side dish. Or you can go with a medium cut lotus root, that is both crispy and has a bit more body to it…which will be the method for this recipe.
Thin and crispy air fried lotus root chips
You can slice your lotus root super thin, toss in a drizzle of oil, and air fry for about 7 minutes, until crispy. These air fried lotus root chips make the perfect, healthy substitute for potato chips.
Thick cut air fried lotus root
Another option you have for air fried lotus root is a bit of a thicker version. This version of air fried lotus root works better as a meal or side dish, rather than a snack.
To make thick cut air fried lotus root, start by cutting your lotus root into thicker slices, about a quarter inch. Before you move them to the air fryer, blanch them in a bath of boiling water for 1-2 minutes. This will allow your lotus root to soften slightly. Then toss in oil and air fry for about 7 minutes.
Blanching is key for tender, thicker cut air fried lotus root. By blanching the lotus root, you will allow the thicker cut to cook all the way through in the air fryer, without burning the outside to a crisp.
Medium cut air fried lotus root
For this air fried lotus root recipe we will be going with a medium cut, about 1/8 inch thick. This method of air fried lotus root does not need to be blanched before air frying. Nor will it become super crispy like the thin, lotus root chips. It will be slightly crispy on the outside, with a nice tender center that still has a bit of a crisp texture to it.
Like the other methods, you will toss the lotus root in a touch of oil and air fry for about 7 minutes. And then…the best part…you will smother it in a sweet and savory garlic ginger sauce!
Where can I buy lotus root
You may or may not be able to find lotus root in your basic super market. But you can almost always find it at specialty markets, such as an Asian market or Indian grocery store. Lotus root is better fresh, of course, but you can also find it in the frozen section if needed.
Garlic Ginger Sauce for Air Fried Lotus Root
Air fried lotus root all on its own is a perfect, simple dish. But toss it the right sauce and now you’ve got something to really write home about!
This garlic ginger sauce is incredibly easy to make and is full of flavor, making it the perfect companion for your air fried lotus root.
For this garlic ginger sauce you will simply combine sake, rice vinegar, soy sauce, ketchup, sugar, garlic and ginger in a pan. This combination will cook down for about 10 minutes to bring out all of the flavors. Then you will add cornstarch to thicken the sauce and a touch of toasted sesame oil. This garlic ginger sauce is full of flavor and has many notes! It’s savory, sweet, tangy, and full of that umami flavor that we all love.
WHAT OIL TO USE FOR AIR FRIED LOTUS ROOT
When it comes to air frying, you need to choose your oil wisely. You need need to choose an oil with a high smoke point. Oils with high smoke points include avocado, peanut, canola, sunflower, and sesame oil.Â
You can use regular sesame oil, but do not use toasted sesame oil when air frying ingredients for longer than a few minutes. Toasted sesame oil has a low smoke point. Since it’s already been toasted, it will burn. For this recipe you will use toasted oil, but you will only have cook it for a short period of time, so it will not affect the flavor negatively.
A lot of people use olive oil in air fryers, but technically you shouldn’t. Olive oil is not an oil with a high smoke point, so it could negatively affect the flavor of your dishes. But again, if you are air frying a recipe at a lower temperature or for a short period of time, it will most likely be fine.
How to serve air fried lotus root with garlic ginger sauce
This recipe makes a perfect side dish for any Asian inspired meal. I personally love to serve this air fried lotus root with dumplings, the combination of the two make a perfect meal!
You can also serve this air fried lotus root recipe as a main course. Just serve it over rice for a perfect, light meal!
Air Fried Lotus Root : with garlic ginger sauce
Ingredients
FOR AIR FRIED LOTUS ROOT
- 4 fresh lotus roots
- 1 tbsp oil use oil with a high smoke point such as avocado, sesame, or canola oil
FOR GARLIC GINGER SAUCE
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup sake
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar can use white sugar or alternative sweetener
- 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1 inch of fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil
TOPPINGS
- 2 scallions, sliced thin
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
AIR FRY THE LOTUS ROOT
- Begin by peeling the lotus root so the outer skin layer is gone. Then slice the lotus root into 1/8 inch slices.
- Place lotus root in a bowl and toss with oil
- Place lotus root in the air fryer, do not over lap. Cook at 375 degrees for 7 minutes. Make sure you flip the lotus root at the 3 1/2 minute mark so they cook evenly. Everyone's air fryer cooks slightly differently, so adjust time if needed. Lotus root should be slightly crispy and golden brown, but not burnt.**If you have a small air fryer, you will have to do this in several batches
- **While the lotus root is cooking, move onto the sauce to use your time wisely
MAKE THE GARLIC GINGER SAUCE
- In a skillet combine all of the ingredients listed under "Garlic Ginger Sauce", except for the cornstarch and toasted sesame oil. Leave the cornstarch and toasted sesame oil to the side for now.
- Bring the ingredients up to a boil and then reduce heat to medium so the sauce can start to cook down. Allow the sauce to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once sauce has reduced for 10 minutes, add the cornstarch. Do this by slowly adding it and stirring with a whisk or spatula. You want to stir somewhat vigorously so the cornstarch doesn't clump.
- Add toasted sesame oil and stir. Sauce should be thick and evenly combined.
- Remove from heat and set aside
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
- When sauce and lotus root have finished cooking, place lotus root in a bowl
- Pour sauce over the air fried lotus root
- Mix until evenly combined
- Plate lotus root and top with thinly sliced scallions and sesame seeds. Recipe makes 4 servings.
- Serve and enjoy! This recipe is a great snack, side dish or appetizer. You can also serve it with rice as a meal!
