Lotus Root

This is the underwater rhizome of the lotus plant, Nelumbium nelumbo or N. nu-cifera. Fresh lotus root is sold either wrapped in individual segments, or as it grows, like salamis linked together, sometimes encrusted in mud. Lotus root doesn’t figure in Parsi cooking except idiosyncratically. Buy only fresh, sound-looking segments. Don’t bother with canned or bottled lotus root.