Mariko’s Lotus Root Sandwiches

One Saturday in Kyoto, Mariko taught me a tempura dish that’s a favorite with her kids. It uses lotus root, a rhizome sold in “links” like sausages, either covered with mud or cleaned so it’s white in color and wrapped in plastic wrap. It makes a lacy cross section when sliced. Here the slices are used to make “sandwiches” around a thin layer of flavorful ground pork. The sandwiches are dipped in batter, then deep-fried. During deep-frying, the pork cooks quickly and the lotus root softens