Fresh lotus seeds have a tender texture and a sweet taste, and can be consumed directly. However, dried lotus seeds have a hard texture and sometimes may not cook properly. Why is it difficult to cook lotus seeds?
Why are lotus seeds difficult to cook?
Dried lotus seeds are processed from fresh lotus seeds, which have a hard texture and a horny outer layer. This makes it difficult for lotus seeds to absorb water and expand, resulting in them being hard to cook. The difficulty in cooking lotus seeds may also be related to their quality. Generally, the longer the storage time, the harder it is to cook lotus seeds.
Tips for cooking lotus seeds until tender
1. Add sugar after cooking.
It is not advisable to add sugar too early when cooking lotus seeds, as it can easily break down the water and result in less water absorption by the lotus seeds, making them harder to cook. It is generally better to add sugar after they have been cooked until tender, as this can reduce the possibility of them not cooking properly.
2. Store in the freezer.
Before consuming lotus seeds, you can store them in the freezer for a day, which may make them easier to cook until tender. If they still don't cook properly, you can use a pressure cooker or cook them multiple times.
3. Soak in hot alkaline water.
In order to prevent lotus seeds from reacting with alkaline substances and affecting their medicinal effects, it is best to soak them in hot alkaline water as a final step. The ratio of alkaline to water for soaking is 1:10. Soak the lotus seeds for 1 hour, rub off the outer shell with your hands, and then soak them in hot water until the lotus flesh expands.
How long does it take to cook lotus seeds?
Around 1-2 hours.
Due to the hard texture of dried lotus seeds, it takes a longer time to cook them until tender. When using a regular iron pot, it usually takes around 1-2 hours. If using a pressure cooker, 30-40 minutes is sufficient.
What can lotus seeds be cooked with?
Lotus Seed and Lily Porridge
Ingredients:
Lily, 150g rice, 25g dried lily, 25g lotus seeds, 2 wolfberries, 30g rock sugar.
Instructions:
1. Crush the dried lily into powder, soften the lotus seeds with hot water.
2. Soak the wolfberries in hot water, wash the rice and soak it in cold water for half an hour.
3. Boil water in a pot, add rice and dried lily, and simmer on medium heat.
4. Add lotus seeds, continue simmering until cooked, and finally add rock sugar.
Lotus Seed and Coix Seed Porridge
Ingredients:
Lotus seeds (without core) 100g, coix seeds 100g, fresh lotus leaf 50g, glutinous rice 50g.
Instructions:
1. Wash the glutinous rice and coix seeds, soak them in cold water for two to three hours, remove and drain.
2. Wash the lotus seeds, soak them in cold water until soft, remove the core.
3. Add about 2000ml of cold water to a pot, add lotus seeds, coix seeds, and glutinous rice, and boil over high heat.
4. Reduce to low heat and simmer until it becomes porridge, add a little rock sugar for flavor, and simmer for a moment before serving.
Red Date and Lotus Seed Porridge
Ingredients:
About 80g of red dates, 50g of lotus seeds, 200g of glutinous rice.
Instructions:
Wash the red dates and remove the pits, wash the lotus seeds and glutinous rice.
Put all the ingredients in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, boil over high heat.
Simmer over low heat until it becomes porridge, season with a little salt.
Precautions for eating lotus seeds
1. Do not eat in excess.
Lotus seeds contain rich nutrients, and moderate consumption can nourish the kidneys, nourish essence, calm the mind, and stop diarrhea. However, excessive consumption can cause discomfort, such as abdominal pain and bloating.
2. Do not eat for a long period of time.
Lotus seeds have a cold nature and a bitter taste. Long-term consumption may cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, especially for those with weak constitution and weak spleen and stomach.
3. Not suitable for those with dry and hard stools.
Lotus seeds have astringent and contracting effects, which may worsen the symptoms of constipation.
4. Not suitable for those with abdominal distension.
Lotus seeds contain substances such as cottonseed sugar, which have good nourishing effects. However, they are not suitable for those with abdominal distension as they have astringent effects and may cause discomfort.
