Lotus Root Fries

Hmmm ... leftover lotus root from my last recipe. I'm feeling a little burned out from the regular stews and stir-fries so I thought I'd go the "East meets West" route this time around. What better way to accomplish this than a fusion with the all - time American favorite deep-fried snack - French Fries. I don't get why they call them french fries. But then again, I don't get why they call hamburgers hamburgers anyway. Well if you do, enlighten me.

Anyway, moving along from the confusion to the fusion, I've decided to whip up some lotus root fries with my leftover lotus root. Whether or not you are a fan of french fries, you really should give this fusion lotus root fries recipe a whirl. Not only does it have less calories, lotus root is rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber.

Another way in cooking lotus root (aka "Renkon" in Japanese) is raw in salads. A simple toss with mirin wine, sesame oil and soy sauce, and you got yourself a healthy, delicious lotus root salad, a delectable delight for the upcoming summer time.

Okay, on to the lotus root fries recipe. Using light cornstarch and no salt at all, lightly dust some strip cuts of lotus root and deep fry them to a perfect crisp. Simple, isn' it? You can also kick it up a notch like I did by quick stir-frying the lotus root fries using butter, evaporated milk, fresh cut red chili peppers, and my all-time favorite herb - kaffir lime leaves. There you have it ... buttery, zesty, mildly spicy lotus root fries !

Lotus Root Fries Recipe

Ingredients :
1 pc. lotus root ( cut into strips of 1/2 inch thick )
cornstarch

Method :
1) Lightly dust the lotus root strips with cornstarch.
2) Deep fry for about 3-5 minutes, OR until golden brown.

Spicy Buttered Lotus Root Stir Fry Recipe

Ingredients :
1 red chili pepper ( deseeded and sliced )
5 kaffir lime leaves
black pepper
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp evaporated milk
1/2 tsp honey
lotus root fries ( from above recipe )

Method :
1) Saute the kaffir lime leaves and red chili peppers until fragrant.
2) Add butter, honey, evaporated milk and let simmer.
3) Toss in the lotus root fries and a dash of black pepper.
3) A quick toss and turn to let everything mix. Then continue stir-fry for 30 seconds.

Masala Tumeric Squid With Coconut Cream

Calamarrrrri ... I just love the way this fancy word for "squid" sounds, especially when I let the last syllable slowly roll off my tongue. With much anticipation from Rasa Malaysia, Claude and Schneier, I am more than happy to share my Masala Tumeric Squid recipe using my home made sambal paste. Yes, I'm spilling the beans. You would be surprised to discover that it is not as difficult as you think to diversify your taste buds. Something new, something old and something intoxicating.

As I have mentioned in my Shrimp Stir Fry with Curry Leaves recipe, tumeric spice is simply great. It adds much flavor to any spicy dish without the "spicy-hot"ness. When using tumeric spice in cooking, not only does it add that mild aromatic flavor to your food, it also helps in removing odors in raw seafood and meats. It is definitely the next best thing to ginger !!

In Thai and Malaysian cuisine, kaffir lime leaves is one of the few favorite herbs when cooking many hot curries, spicy dishes and chinese stir frys. This herb is not hot, but lends a light fragrant taste to any food. Unlike the tumeric spice, which require shorter cooking time, another delicate spice, garam masala, simply adds harmony to the taste of the food. One tip when using garam masala spice is to add it at the last stage of cooking. Because it is such a delicate spice, it will make your food a little bitter if added too early.

Here's my authentic Masala Tumeric Squid recipe, simmered in a light coconut cream with 1 herb, 2 aromatic spices, and a spicy touch of my sambal chili paste. Enjoy :)

Masala Tumeric Squid Recipe

Ingredients :
10 squid ( remove ink and eyes )
2-3 tbsp sambal chili paste
1/2 can coconut cream ( OR coconut milk )
10 kaffir lime leaves
2 tbsp tumeric spice ( use 1 tbsp of tumeric spice to marinate the squid )
minced ginger
minced shallots
salt and sugar to taste

Method :
1) Saute minced ginger, shallots, and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant.

2) Pan fry the marinated squid on both sides until slightly browned.

3) Add the sambal chili paste and stir fry for 2 minutes.

4) Add coconut cream, mix well, and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes OR until squid is tender.

Sambal Chili Paste Recipe

Ingredients :
10 red chilis ( deseeded )
0-2 dried red chilis ( deseeded )
1 in. galangal
1 tsp dried shrimps
1/4 can coconut cream
2 tsp tumeric spice
3 shallots
1 pc. garlic ( not the whole clove )
1 tbsp tomato ketchup
1 tsp lemongrass powder
salt and sugar to taste

Method :
1) Blend all ingredients until slightly fine.
2) Heat some oil on the pan and saute the blended sambal chili until fragrant.
3) Turn to medium heat and let the sambal chili thicken.
4) Turn to low heat and allow to cook until a paste-like texture forms.