How To Cut Carrots into a Flower Shape (Hanagiri)

In Japanese cooking, we often use the hanagiri (花切り) cutting technique to make a flower shape. Here are two simple methods to create cute and decorative flowers with carrots.

We use various cutting techniques in Japanese cooking to add a decorative touch to vegetables like lotus root, shiitake mushrooms, and carrots. We add carrot coins shaped like flowers to simmered and hot pot dishes for both celebratory occasions and everyday meals. Today, I want to show you how to cut carrots into a flower shape using the hanagiri (花切り) cutting technique. They are easy to do and I hope you give it a try!

Equipment You’ll Need

For method 1, you’ll need just a knife. Method 2 uses both a knife and a vegetable cutter in the shape of a flower. You can find these on Amazon or a well-stocked Japanese grocery store.

How To Make Hanagiri Carrots

Method 1

1. Cut out a shallow and narrow “V”-shaped notch down the length of the carrot. Remove the shallow carrot wedge you just cut.
2. Make similar shallow wedges every 90 degrees. You will have 4 shallow wedges total.
3. Cut into thin slices. Your carrot flowers are ready to use in your favorite dishes.

Method 2

1. Buy flower-shaped vegetable cutters.
2. Use large carrots with a circumference as big or larger than your cutters. Peel and thinly cut crosswise into carrot coins.
3. Punch out flower shapes with the vegetable cutter. Your carrot flowers are now ready to use.

A More Advanced Method: Nejiri Ume

The methods I just described are simple techniques for cutting hanagiri carrots. You can also make beautiful plum flower carrots using an advanced technique where you carved away the sharp edges of the petals into rounded flower petals. To learn how with my step-by-step instructions and photos, see my tutorial on How to Make Nejiri Ume.

Recipes with Carrot Flowers

• Shabu Shabu
• Sukiyaki
• Chikuzenni (Nishime)
• Anko Nabe (Monkfish Hot Pot)
• Chanko Nabe (Sumo Stew)

How To Cut Carrots into a Flower Shape (Hanagiri)

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In Japanese cooking, we often use the hanagiri (花切り) cutting technique to make a flower shape. Here are two simple methods to create cute and decorative flowers with carrots.

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Instructions

 

Method 1

• Peel a carrot. Cut out a narrow “V”-shaped notch lengthwise down the carrot. Remove the carrot wedge you just cut. Make similar grooves or notches every 90 degrees. You will have 4 notches total.
  
• Thinly slice crosswise into coins. Your carrot flowers are ready to use in your favorite dishes.
  

Method 2

• Buy flower-shaped vegetable cutters.
  
• Peel a carrot with a cross section that's big enough for your cutters. Cut the carrot crosswise into thin coins. Then, punch out a flower shape with the vegetable cutter.
  

The Nejiri Ume Method

• For a more advanced method to cut plum flower carrots, see my Nejiri Ume tutorial.
  

Author: Namiko Chen

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