Name: How To Make Kinpira Renkon (Japanese Braised Lotus Root)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients: 200g Renkon (lotus root); 2 tsp Sugar; 2 tsp Cooking Sake; 2 tsp Mirin; 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce; 1 Tbsp Sesame Oil; Sesame Seeds, as needed; Sliced Chili Pepper, as needed

How To Make Kinpira Renkon (Japanese Braised Lotus Root)

Side Dish Lotus Root Under 30 Minutes Weeknight Lunchbox Healthy Meal Prep Vegetarian-friendly Vegan-friendly

Kinpira is a beloved Japanese side dish, created by stir-frying and simmering root vegetables in a delectable sweet and savory sauce. Typically, these vegetables are thinly sliced or julienned, then cooked with seasonings like soy sauce, sugar, sake, and mirin.

One charming point about Kinpira is its ease of preparation. You can also store it in the fridge for a few days, making it a versatile addition to your meals, whether it's a regular dish, bento lunchbox side, or a tasty sake accompaniment.

What sets Kinpira apart is its unique texture—slightly crunchy and firm yet tender. The root vegetables retain their crispness due to the quick cooking method, while also absorbing the rich seasonings during simmering. This delightful textural contrast pairs excellently with rice.

Traditionally, carrots, lotus root (renkon), and burdock (gobo) are the mainstays in Kinpira recipes. We previously shared a recipe for Kinpira using gobo, but in this article, we'll introduce you to Kinpira Renkon.

Renkon, known as "lotus root" in English, might give the impression of being a lotus root, but it's actually an enlarged "stem" of the lotus plant. Despite this, it's referred to as "蓮(ren=lotus) 根(kon=root)" in both Japanese and English due to its root-like appearance.

The key to perfect Renkon Kinpira is a quick cooking process to preserve that delightful crunch. Enjoy the cooking process and savor the savory delight of Renkon Kinpira!

Overview

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 20 mins

Total servings: 4

Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

200g Renkon (lotus root)
2 tsp Sugar
2 tsp Cooking Sake
2 tsp Mirin
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Sesame Seeds, as needed
Sliced Chili Pepper, as needed

Expert's Tip

Benriner Japanese Mandoline Vegetable and Fruit Slicer - Ivory

Looking to save time in the kitchen? This Mandoline slicer can swiftly create thin slices and julienne vegetables. With three different blades, this handy kitchen tool not only speeds up your prep but also delivers professional-quality results. Plus, it comes with a safety device to safeguard your fingers, despite its razor-sharp blade. You can use it to slice lotus root for Kinpira Renkon or slice other veggies for stir-fries, salads, and more.

Instructions

1) Gathering the Ingredients

Gather the ingredients together.

drained sliced lotus roots, drying with paper towels

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2) Preparing & Slicing the Lotus Root

First, give the renkon a good wash. If you have a Tawashi, it's great for cleaning the surface effectively. The skin of renkon contains valuable nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenols, so it's best to skip peeling. Slice the renkon into thin 2-3mm pieces. If the renkon is particularly thick, halve it before slicing, as demonstrated in the photo.

After cutting, soak the slices in water to eliminate excess starch. Let them sit for about 10 minutes, then gently pat them dry with paper towels.

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3) Cooking the Lotus Root

Place the sliced renkon into a frying pan and drizzle some sesame oil over them. Make sure to coat each slice with the sesame oil for even cooking. Heat them over medium heat, arranging them in a way that they don't overlap.

4) Adding Seasoning and Stir-Frying

After the renkon slices turn translucent and are well cooked (usually around 3 minutes of cooking), introduce the mixed seasonings, sesame seeds, and sliced chili peppers. Stir-fry them over medium to high heat until the liquid in the seasonings evaporates.

5) Serving Kinpira Renkon

Transfer the kinpira renkon to a plate, and garnish with additional sesame seeds if you'd like. Enjoy!

About the author

Megumi Moriya

Megumi is a recipe writer based in Chiba, Japan. She carries a Bachelor in the Faculty of Foreign Studies and is interested in creating content about Japanese cuisine and traditional confectioneries. Megumi is most interested in making Japanese recipe content, and in her free time, she likes to play the piano, make handcrafted goods, and hula dance. She hopes to inspire Japanese Taste readers to make Japanese recipes at home and of course share more about Japanese culture.

View articles by Megumi Moriya