Sweet and Sour Lotus Root Fritters

Lotus root is one of my favourite vegetables and they are largely on the markets recently, so I bought some and planned to make a savoury dish with them. Sometimes when I buy lotus root with mud on, I would definitely make lotus soup because they are the freshest and their texture is starchy. But usually what I can obtain in the local market are those cleaned, which taste crispier and are less fresh, I like them as well but I wouldn’t make soup, instead, I would marinade, fry or cook with meat. See my previous recipes of Marinade Lotus Root and Lotus Root in Chili Oil.

Now let’s make these delicious meatcakes together.

Serve 4

Ingredients –
For the meatcakes –
Lotus root, 300g. I use a big portion of lotus root in this recipe. For me, lotus root plays the key role;
Pork mince, 400g, with four portions of fat and six portions of lean. You could choose how you like your mince but I wouldn’t suggest 100% lean meat;
Ginger, 15g, finely chopped;
Sugar, 1tbsp;
Light soy sauce, 2tbsp;
Powdered white pepper, 2tsp;
Chinese cooking rice wine, 1tbsp;
Starch flour, 2tbsp;

For the sweet and sour sauce –
Ketchp, 4tbsp;
White vinegar, 2tbsp;
Aged sorghum vinegar, 1tbsp;
Light soy sauce, 1tbsp;
Sugar, 2tbsp;
Chinese cooking rice wine, 1tbsp;
Starch flour, 1/2 tbsp;
Water, half cup;
Red chili flakes, 1tbsp, optional;

Finely chopped spring onion and toasted sesame seeds, for garnishing.

How to do –
1. Clean the lotus root and cut off the connection part, peel;
2. Finely dice the lotus root. You could use a food processer;

3. Add in the ginger and all seasoning ingredients in the pork mince, mix well and keep stirring in one direction for about 50 times. This can make the meatcake firm and juicy. You could use a food processor but why not do some exercises;
4. Add in the chopped lotus root and mix well;

5. In a non-stick pan, heat a generous amount of oil till the pan bottom is coated with oil. Roll the meat mixture into balls and place in the pan, press down slightly with your fingers or a spoon, fry double sides in medium heat;

6. Keep in medium heat and check with a spoon. Press the meatcake with a spoon, it should be firm when fully cooked;
7. They are tasty just like this and you could have them as sidedish with beer. But I would make a sweet and sour sauce with it;

8. In a mixing cup, put in all seasoning ingredients of the sauce and mix well. There should be quite a lot of oil in the pan so keep about 2tbsp of it. Add the sauce mixture in the pan and bring to boil. Add in the meatcakes, flip till all meatcakes coated with the lovely sauce;

9. Sprinkle some chopped spring onion and toasted sesame seeds on top and serve. This is a dish that everyone can eat and would love definitely!