• Heat oil in a pan. Add the sliced lotus stems and cook for a minute. Add in the salt and sugar and cook till the stems soften a little. Add the water, cover the pan, and let it cook on a medium flame for 10 minutes.
• While the stems are cooking, take a small pan and roast the sesame seeds till they turn greyish brown and start spluttering.
• Once the lotus stems are cooked (they should remain crunchy but lose the raw flavour), add in the sesame seeds and take off the flame. Keep aside. This will be added to the salad.

Salad

• Make the dressing with sesame oil, mirin, light soya sauce, salt, honey, and lime juice.
• In the serving bowl, place all the ingredients except the sesame seeds. Toss with the dressing. Taste and adjust flavor as per your palate.
• Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top and serve.
• I hope you enjoy this salad as much as I did. I will be delighted to see what you make. When you do make it, do click a picture and share it with me on Instagram.