Plant a good seed of thought

Seared Lotus Root in Soy Sauce

  • Words & Photography / Jo

小松鼠在矮牆跑過,或許聽見我在洗切,停下來怔怔的看過來。我在想松鼠只吃松子仁嗎,可能也吃蔬菜或水果吧,要不要切一點手邊的蓮藕拋給牠呢?想着之際,牠像沒重量的毛毛球,剎那間溜走,竄進依牆生長的綠蔭大樹裡去。

我繼續刷着鋅盤裡的蓮藕。

市場裡賣的蓮藕有兩種,乾淨帶淺粉色,另一種滿佈泥濘,幾乎看到不到根莖本身。兩種蓮藕的味道和質感也許有分別,我卻只愛買帶泥濘那種。天真認為那東西應該剛從荷塘挖出來吧,好像較新鮮,而且,我好喜歡把那灰泥洗刷乾淨的過程。當泥濘盡去,露出原來面貌,或斑駁或無瑕,都很好。順着紋理的洗,沿着節眼的刷,泥濘隨着水流流走,當心念都放在仔細的洗刷裡,完成的一剎,心裡好像給水龍頭下的流水沖洗過,澄明了。

有說一剎那者為一念,人每天萌生上千萬個心念。每動一念,就像小石掉進荷塘,漣漪徐徐揚開,掀動周遭一切。所以,好好看清自己的心,給自己、給別人、給世界種下一顆善念。

Perhaps it heard me doing the kitchen chores, a little squirrel sprinting along the low wall stopped and stared at me. While I was thinking whether it eats only pine nuts, or it may eat vegetables and fruits as well, or should I give it a bit of the lotus root on hand, it dashed off, like a weightless furry ball, into shades of green growing by the wall. 

I kept on scrubbing the lotus root in the sink. 

There are two types of lotus root sold in the wet market. One is clean with a pale ashy pink colour, and one is covered with mud that you can hardly see the root itself. I guess the two vary in flavour and texture, but I only like taking the muddy one home. I simply believe it is directly dug out from a lily pond and is much fresher. Besides, I love the process of scrubbing the mud away. When the lotus root reveals itself from the mire, it may be scarred or it may be spotless – it’s all good. Scrubbing along the grain and brushing into the knobs, the mud runs along with water into the pipe, and the mind feels cleansed and brightened under the running tap after it has been attentively washed.

It is said that a moment or a ksana means the mind of thought, and humans generate thousands of it every day. Having one mind of thought appeared is like throwing a pebble into a lily pond. It ripples out, moving everything around. So, mind your mind, and plant a good seed of thoughts for the world, for the people you love, and, for yourself.

醬油燒蓮藕

材料:

蓮藕 300克
醬油麴 2茶匙 (或以1.5茶匙醬油混合0.5茶匙味醂代替)
適量

做法:

  1. 蓮藕洗淨去皮,切約0.5cm厚。
  2. 中火燒熱平底鍋,下油。
  3. 一面煎約一分鐘至微黃,反轉,薄薄抺上醬油麴。
  4. 另一面煎約一分鐘後,反轉,關火,薄薄抺上醬油麴。*
  5. 反轉,以平底鍋餘溫燒熱即可。

* 抺上醬油後很易燒焦,關火後再抺醬油會較易控制,若鍋不夠熱便再開火。

Seared Lotus Root in Soy Sauce

Ingredients:

Lotus Root 300g
Soy Koji 2 Teaspoon (or substitute with a mix of 1.5 tsp of soy sauce and 0.5 tsp of mirin)
Oil As needed

Steps:

  1. Wash and peel the lotus root. Slice it into 0.5cm thick.
  2. Heat a pan over medium heat and then add oil. 
  3. Sear one side for about a minute till it slightly turns golden, flip it over, and lightly brush it with soy koji. 
  4. When another is seared for a minute, flip it over and turn off the heat. Lightly brush the top side with soy koji.*
  5. Flip it over again and cook the lotus root in the residue heat. 

* Once brushed with soy sauce, it can be burnt easily. To save the fuss, turn the heat off. You can always turn it on again if you find the pan not hot enough. 


Jo Liu

It’s raining outside, crisp and bleak. Three chubby sparrows took shelter on my balcony and I gave them the baguette bits left on my breakfast plate but they flew away. I stayed in, played Damien Rice on vinyl and made apple crumble. Repeat.

Instagram: foodialoguehk

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