Kinpira Renkon

By
Setsuko Yoshizuka
Setsuko Yoshizuka
Setsuko Yoshizuka is a freelance food writer and Japanese cookbook author.
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Updated on 02/7/23
Kinpira renkon

Imagenavi/Getty Images

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 2 servings

Kinpira renkon is braised lotus root and is part of the Japanese culinary tradition of izakaya, or small plates. 

Kinpira is a Japanese cooking style in which sliced vegetables are stir-fried and seasoned with sugar and soy sauce. The most common ingredients used for Kinpira is gobo (burdock root) and carrot, but the lotus root is another common ingredient of this cooking style. The name Kinpira comes from a legendary muscleman. 

Renkon (lotus root) has a snappy texture and a distinct appearance. Renkon is thought to be a good luck food in Japan. Renkon is not the most familiar ingredient to most. In fact, unless you reside in the Far East, chances are that you will not come across this odd-looking vegetable at all.

It is not really a root but the rhizome of the lotus flower. For the Buddhist, it is a symbol of purity even though it is grown in muddy conditions. It has a knobby appearance and has small holes throughout its length which, when sliced open, revealed the most intricate lattice design like a beautiful blossom flower or a snowflake. It has a delicate and sweet flavor along with a crispy crunchy texture. It is delicious when served raw in a salad. Once cooked, it retains most of its crunchiness and is a great absorber of flavors, perfect for stew or other braising dishes.

Serve kinpira renkon as a side dish on a small plate with sesame seeds sprinkled over the dish.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 pound renkon lotus root, peeled, sliced into thin rounds or half rounds

  • 3 ounces carrot, peeled and sliced into thin half rounds

  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil

  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil

  • 1 tablespoon sake

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Steps to Make It

  1. Soak renkon slices in water for 5 to 10 minutes.

  2. Drain and dry with paper towels.

  3. Heat vegetable and sesame oils in a large skillet.

  4. Stir-fry carrot and renkon slices for a couple minutes on medium heat. The renkon should turn translucent.

  5. Add sake and stir-fry until the liquid is gone.

  6. Add mirin and sugar and stir-fry until the liquid is gone.

  7. Further, add soy sauce and stir-fry quickly.

  8. Stop the heat and sprinkle sesame seeds.

Tips

  • Store kinpira renkon in an airtight container in the fridge and eat it the next day or a few days later (it tastes even better).
  • If you have leftover renkon, make homemade lotus root chips.
  • Consider making this spicy, adding dried chilies to the mix.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
248 Calories
8g Fat
39g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories 248
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 10%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 540mg 23%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 7g 24%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 48mg 241%
Calcium 74mg 6%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 763mg 16%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)