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How to Cut Carrot Flowers
Now and then, I have readers asking me how I did the garnishes for my dishes – for example, cutting carrots to flower shapes, or slicing spring onions to wispy strips.
See Also: How to Cut Vegetables Using Scissors
I’m going to tackle the carrots one in this post, since Chinese New Year is around the corner, and a lot of people like to cut carrots in this manner as flowers are an auspicious symbol, representing richness (花开富贵). This is not just useful for CNY, but all year round too, as I’m sure any dish can be jazzed up with the pretty flowers. This tutorial will work for daikon (radish/white carrot) too.
| Click on photo to view full size | Description |
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Method 1 (Vegetable/Cookie Cutter)1. This is a short cut method using vegetable cutter. I bought the above at Daiso Singapore for S$2. You can also use cookie cutter as well, and they come in many designs besides flowers. Since carrot is a hard vegetable, do use metal cutter rather than plastic ones. |
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2. Using vegetable/cookie cutter is really straightforward. First cut the carrot to slices, position the cutter on top of each slice and press down (I place a cloth on top for more support and to cushion the sharp edges). Discard the outer trims and push out the cut carrot. With this method, it is not necessary to peel the carrot beforehand. |
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Method 2 – Carving the Flower Petal1. This method is the manual method of carving the flower shape yourself. This is my preferred method because it will work for all sizes of carrots, and you can change the design. |
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2. Peel the carrot with a vegetable peeler. Use a sharp paring knife to mark the petals on the carrot. I decided on a 4-petal flower so you can see four slits above. |
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3. Carve a horizontal line down the first slit. Repeat with a second horizontal line about 3 mm away. |
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4. Hollow out the carrot between the two horizontal lines to complete the petal. Repeat with the other petals and when you’re done, you’ll see the flower shape. |
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5. Each slice of the carrot will give you a nice flower. My knife skills are not good so you can see that the petals are not symmetrical or perfect, but I’m happy with them. These pretty carrots are now ready to jazz up all kinds of dishes! |
very interesting methods, thanks for sharing :)
thanks for this tutorial….waiting for the wipsy strips spring onion one…hehe…
/jonie
oh sorry you’re still waiting hehe… will try to do it soon after CNY :)
This remind me of making them in the jai (齋) dish for the Chinese New Year. Thanks!
cool..thanks for sharing :) Very timely for CNY.. btw, any tips to quickly shed the 3 color carrots for lo-hei?? those ready-shed and spin-dry often sold out in supermarket…
you have to use a vegetable peeler with “teeth”- you can check out my yee sang recipe, I showed a photo of shedding the vegetables.
https://noobcook.com/yu-sheng-chinese-new-year-raw-fish-salad/
wonderful technique to cut carrots… !
Cute way to cut the carrots…
Second method for me, easier and less wastage.
u r sooo patient! I’m the chop and eat kinda girl! hahaha. but i would like to learn the 2nd method, just seems more interesting and the cuts look more deep.
Love reading these tutorials. Really informative. Thanks!
Definitely will grab some carrots for this coming Rabbit year. Will you be sharing the techniques for ‘grooming’ the mushrooms as well? Thanks a bunch!
Is it something like this? http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiffygal/5384334284/
This is it. Hope you will include this tutorial in your next dish. Thanks again Chef Wiffy.