Stir Fried Mixed Veggies with Lotus Root

If you have noticed like me, lotus root have been appearing on most Chinese New Year meals, either served at home or in a restaurant.  When I did a search, I found that Chinese believed if you eat lotus root during the Chinese New Year, all the new ventures that you are planning for this year will take root and grow.  My friend served lotus root soup on reunion dinner so I served up stir-fried lotus root with mixed vegetable.  It would be nice with some broccoli as well but I just used what I had at home at that moment.  The lotus root and water chestnut gave this dish the crunch.

The food symbolism of this dish are listed below:
Mixed Vegetable (什锦蔬菜) overall means Family Harmony.  Golden lily buds (金针) means wealth.  Water Chestnut (荸薺) means unity.  Shrimp (小虾) means happiness and good fortune.  Sweet corn (甜玉米) means increase growth.  Carrots ( 紅蘿蔔) red color means good luck.  Chinese Cabbage (白菜) means 100 types of prosperity luck.

Reference from Food Symbolism during Chinese New Year celebration.

Ingredients:

• Lotus root, peel off the outer layer, cut into thin slices and soak in water until ready to use (to prevent it from turning black when cooked) {I didn't soak mine in water thus mine turned black, learned a lesson here}
• 1 carrot, cut into pretty flowers
• 1/4 of cabbage, washed and tear with hand into pieces
• 1 zucchini, cut into cubes
• 1 bowl of shrimps
• 1/4 cup of dried golden lily buds, soften, cut off the hard tip and tight into a knot
• 1 can of whole straw mushrooms, drain and rinse
• 1 can of whole baby corn, drain and rinse, I cut it into half
• 1 can of sliced water chestnuts, drain and rinse
• 3 gloves of garlic, mince
• 2 Tbsp. of wolfberries/Goji berries/kei chi

Seasonings:  rice wine, salt, sugar and chicken granules/powder

Thicken with cornstarch water (optional)

Method:

1.  Heat up a wok, when hot add in oil.  Then add in drained lotus root and stir-fry for a little while, dish out and set aside.

2.  Heat up wok again, add a little oil and stir-fry the zucchini and shrimps separately until cooked.  Dish out and set aside.

3.  Heat wok, add oil.  Add in garlic, stir-fry until slight brown, add in cabbage and carrot, stir-fry for a little while.  Add in straw mushrooms, baby corns, golden lily buds and water chestnuts.  Stir-fry well.  Add in the fried shrimps, lotus root and zucchini, mix well.  Add seasonings.

4.  Add a little water if wish to and thicken with cornstarch water.  Lastly add in the wolfberries/kei chi.  Mix well and dish out to serve!