If you are into Chinese pastries, then you must try this classic lotus seed paste filling. Make this filling with peeled lotus seeds, corn oil, maltose, and white sugar. Use it for various Chinese pastries, from cakes to buns and sweet glutinous rice balls.
What Are Lotus Seeds?
A lotus seed or nut comes from the plant family of Nelumbonaceae. The plant it comes from is generally known as lotus or sacred lotus. The types of lotus seeds vary depending on the lotus type, including the seeds of Nelumbo nucifera, Nelumbo lutea, and Nelumbo pentaphylla.
You may also find lotus seeds in different colors, such as brown and white. Brown peel lotus seeds are harvested when the lotus head is ripe, whereas white lotus seeds are harvested when the lotus head is still green. Brown peel lotus seeds are typically cracked in half to remove the germ.
There are also black seeds with a hard shell harvested from the sacred lotus plant. Traditionally, lotus seeds are used for their medicinal properties, from promoting sleep to supporting heart and kidney health. Lotus seeds are highly used in numerous Asian recipes, including soups, pastries, and snacks.
Where To Buy Lotus Seed
Lotus seeds are available in your local Asian grocery store. You can also buy it online on Amazon or online grocery stores. Aside from the seed itself, you may also find ready-made lotus seed paste filling in pure or mixed varieties.
What Is Lotus Seed Paste Filling Used For?
Once you have lotus seed paste, you can use it for various Chinese pastries. Lotus seed paste is similar to my other paste recipes, such as taro paste, red bean paste, yam paste, black sesame paste, and purple sweet potato paste.
Use it as a filling for mooncakes, steamed buns, dowry or sponge cakes, tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls), sesame balls, various types of mochi such as Boba Milk Tea Mochi and Matcha Mochi, and sweet rolls, to name a few. If you have leftover lotus seeds, you can add them to soup and congee recipes.
The lotus seed paste is a favorite filling for most Chinese sweets and pastries because of its mild sweetness and a taste that is not overpowering. The paste will have a mild taste as long as the green center or germ is removed. If it is not removed, the paste may have a bitter taste that comes from the germ.
How To Prepare Lotus Seeds
The most important step in preparing lotus seeds is removing the germ. The germ is usually bitter and is removed by cracking the seeds in half. If you want to skip this part, you can buy lotus seeds that are cracked in half already.
Before cracking the seeds open, you will have to soak them overnight in water. Then, the seeds are cooked in water in a rice cooker or pot until soft enough to mash. From there, you can continue with the rest of the recipe steps, which include adding corn oil, maltose, and white sugar.
Equipment And Ingredients For Lotus Seed Paste Filling
The special kitchen tools you need are a rice cooker and blender. If you don’t have a rice cooker, use a regular cooking pot instead. You will also need a non-stick pan to cook and mix the filling. I highly recommend a non-stick pan to prevent the paste from sticking to the pan as you stir.
The blender is needed to make the paste-like consistency. If you don’t have a blender, use a food processor or immersion blender to help you grind and puree the lotus seeds. Here’s a complete list of what you need for kitchen tools and ingredients:
Kitchen Equipment
- Bowl
- Rice cooker or cooking pot
- Blender
- Non-stick pan
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 200 grams of peeled lotus seeds
- 140 grams of corn oil (Oils with a neutral taste are excellent substitutes, such as peanut, soybean, or vegetable oil.)
- 100 grams of maltose(Honey, barley malt syrup, and maple syrup are great alternatives)
- 80 grams of white sugar(You can use brown sugar, coconut sugar, or muscovado as sweeteners)
Instructions On How To Make Lotus Seed Paste Filling
Preparing the lotus seeds in advance will help you shorten the cooking time whenever you are ready to make the paste. It will take several hours to prepare the seeds since they need to be soaked overnight before mashing and cooking. Once you have mashed lotus seeds, the process of mixing the ingredients in a pan for the paste is a breeze.
Watch how I did it on Instagram and TikTok through my tutorial video. Tag me @kitchenmisadventures after making this recipe and share your experience!
Prepare the peeled lotus seeds by soaking them in water overnight.
After soaking, remove the lotus seed hearts or the green center. Remove them by opening the seeds in half.
Then, place the lotus seeds in a rice cooker and add enough water to submerge them.
Cook the lotus seeds until they become soft enough to be easily mashed with your hands.
Next, blend the cooked lotus seeds with corn oil using the juicing or puree function of the blender to create a paste mixture.
In a non-stick pan, put the maltose, white sugar, and lotus seed paste.
Heat and stir the mixture until it becomes more firm but soft enough to work with. You can mix it by folding and pressing the mixture on the pan.
Now that you have made your own lotus seed stuffing, you can enjoy it in a bun, cake, and several sweet desserts.
If you loved this recipe, try my other recipes for filling, such as red bean paste, taro paste, and yam paste.
Making Lotus Seed Paste Filling: A Step-By-Step Guide
Ingredients
- 200 grams of peeled lotus seeds
- 140 grams of corn oil Oils with a neutral taste are excellent substitutes, such as peanut, soybean, or vegetable oil.
- 100 grams of maltose Honey, barley malt syrup, and maple syrup are great alternatives
- 80 grams of white sugar You can use brown sugar, coconut sugar, or muscovado as sweeteners
Instructions
- Prepare the peeled lotus seeds by soaking them in water overnight.
- After soaking, remove the lotus seed hearts or the green center. Remove them by opening the seeds in half.
- Then, place the lotus seeds in a rice cooker and add enough water to submerge them.
- Cook the lotus seeds until they become soft enough to be easily mashed with your hands.
- Next, blend the cooked lotus seeds with corn oil using the juicing or puree function of the blender to create a paste mixture.
- In a non-stick pan, put the maltose, white sugar, and lotus seed paste.
- Heat and stir the mixture until it becomes more firm but soft enough to work with. You can mix it by folding and pressing the mixture on the pan.
