Healthy Sweet Lotus Root Dessert

~~~Mid-autumn festival special~~~

Super yummy and healthy dessert with the nutrient packed lotus root!!

So easy to make too!! ^^

For the leftover rice, you can toss them into the pot you cooked the lotus root in and make a dessert drink with brown sugar and dates. Slow boil on low heat until the rice softens and the mixture thickens~

INGREDIENTS: 

1 segment of lotus root
1/3 cup sticky rice
3 tbsp brown sugar
dates
dried osmanthus
honey

1. Wash and soak the sticky rice for a minimum of 2 hours. If the dates are dry and hard, they can be soaked in the water too.
2. Slice the dates lengthwise and remove the core.
3. Take a segment of lotus root and peel off the skin.
4. Cut off about an inch off one end of the lotus root, this will be the lid. Rinse the holes inside.
5. Take the soaked rice and stuff into the holes of the lotus root. Pack it down with chopsticks but not over stuffed because the rice will expand when cooked.
6. Put the lid back onto the end of the lotus root and secure with toothpicks.
7. Fill a pot with water that barely covers the lotus root.
8. Add the sliced dates, osmanthus and brown sugar to the water.
9. Bring to a boil first then simmer over medium low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours.
10. Cool on a drying rack and when cool enough to handle, cut into a centimeter slices.
11. Drizzle on some brown sugar water and honey & serve!!

Tips:

• Find a fat and stubby lotus root so the holes inside are larger and more sticky rice can be stuffed inside!!