Pan-Fried Lotus Root and Pork Patties 蓮藕煎肉餅

This lotus root and pork patties can definitely make a good lunchbox side dish. Doesn't matter served cold or hot, its deliciousness holds. But you know what? It's also a good "otsumami," something to munch on alongside a few drinks (don't drink and drive).

Pan-fried lotus root and pork patties 蓮藕煎肉餅 -

Ingredients (about 1 medium large piece or 6 individual servings)?

• 320 grams ground pork
• 1 medium small chunk lotus root (about 1/2 cup peeled and chopped)
• 2 to 3 bulbs shallot (about 1 tablespoon peeled and chopped)
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon dried shrimps 蝦米
• 1 small bundle cilantro 
• 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper powder

How?

Use 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to massage and marinate the ground pork. Let it sit under room temperature for 10 minutes.

Rinse then soak the dried shrimps using room temperature water. Should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Once ready, drain and pat really dry. Give it a good chop.

Peel and chop the shallot, we will need about 1 tablespoon of chopped shallot in the end. Peel and fine chop the lotus root, this one we will need about 1/2 loosely packed cup. Chop the cilantro stems and keep the leafy part aside for now.

Crack one egg, separate the yolk and the white. You can save the yolk for something else or store in the fridge first. We will only need the egg white for this recipe. Beat the egg white till tiny bit foamy.

To the marinated ground pork, add the chopped dried shrimp, chopped shallot, 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro stems, 1 beaten egg white, 2 tablespoon of corn starch, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of white pepper powder. Mix till evenly blended.

Have a pan ready and drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Use medium heat and wait till warmed up. You can either sear the pork mixture into one big patty, or I actually shape the pork mixture into 6 individual patties instead.

Carefully transfer the patties to the pan and sear till the bottom turn browned. Flip and sear the other side till the same.

Once fully cooked, transfer the patties to serving plate and garnish with some cilantro leaves.

The patties were well-seasoned so there's no need to prepare extra dipping sauce. However, I would imagine serving the patties with some Thai sweet chili sauce sounds like a delicious idea.  

Other recipes using lotus root:

• Lotus root and pork belly in Asian seasonings
• Sweet and sour lotus root 酸甜蓮藕片