Lotus Paste for Mooncakes

Pour hot water into a bowl of peeled lotus seeds

Soak the seeds for an hour or so until they expand

Drain out the water and remove the center core from every seed

Boil in a pot for an hour and remove the foam

Drain out the liquid and blend the cooked lotus seeds into a fine puree

Pour 1/4 cup of sugar into a pan with some oil and stir until dissolved

Add in the lotus seed puree over low flame and stir continously until almost dry

Add in the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar and mix thoroughly

Pour in about 1/3 of oil at a time and stir until the paste slowly thickens

Finally add in maltose to the mixture and stir until it is evenly distributed

Stir lotus paste until it thickens and no longer sticks to the sides of the pan

Set it aside to cool down and keep in the fridge until ready to use