文：老樹 主理：東后齋
蓮子是荷花的果實，藏於蓮蓬中，取出曬乾去皮後就是我們吃用的蓮子。它是滋補食材，具有補脾、益腎、健胃等功效。荷塘之花這道菜所呈現的猶如一朵荷花，冬瓜卷鑲嵌着蓮子，再由小棠菜襯托出蓮蓬的造型。根據師傅教授，冬瓜不宜刨得太厚才可口。可用手指當作捲冬瓜的工具，捲口的大小剛好嵌入一顆蓮子。
荷塘之花（ 冬瓜包蓮子 ）
材料 ︰
冬瓜刨 30 片
蓮子 30 粒
小棠菜、西蘭花、紅蘿蔔、杞子（伴碟裝飾用）
（冬瓜和蓮子數量成正比，根據個人的食量決定數量。）
調味料 ︰
糖 少許
鹽 少許
素上湯 一罐
生粉 半茶匙
做法︰
- 蓮子浸透，蒸 10 分鐘，取出過冷水，備用。
- 冬瓜刨成 30 片，每條約一呎長。
- 捲起冬瓜條，蓮子嵌入冬瓜卷裏，覆轉冬瓜卷 （ 蓮子部分朝下 ）放入深底圓盤裏，蒸大約 15 分鐘至冬瓜透明。
- 洗切好所有伴菜，小棠菜切成菜膽。 加油、 鹽、糖，汆水。
- 小棠菜墊碟，將 3 的材料鋪上面，再酌量注入 素上湯生粉水埋的芡，擺上伴菜裝飾即可。
Wax Gourd Roll with Lotus Seed
Ingredients:
30 slices wax gourd
30 pieces lotus seed
A suitable amount of Shanghai cabbage, broccoli, carrot and Chinese wolfberry for decoration
Seasonings:
A pinch of sugar and salt
1 can vegetarian stock
½ teaspoon cornstarch
Steps:
- Soak the lotus seeds thoroughly before steaming for 10 minutes. Rinse with running cool water. Set aside.
- Slice the wax gourd into 30 pieces each 1 ft. long.
- Roll the wax gourd slices and inlay the lotus seeds. Turn all the rolls upside down and put into a deep big bowl. Steam for 15 minutes until the wax gourd becomes transparent.
- Wash and slice all the other ingredients. Add in oil, salt and sugar to boiling water and parboil them.
- Place the Shanghai Cabbage on the bottom of a dish and put the wax gourd rolls on them. Add in a little cornstarch sauce. Finally decorate the dish with the remaining prepared ingredients.