You may have bought one that was old and tough. Those are used in soup, boiled for 35 minutes or so. For frying into chips, try to choose the smaller roots as they are younger and more tender.

Did you cut against the grain or with the grain?

I cut it across to make circles.

The following should give you a better idea how they're used:

Lotus Root Recipes

Lotus Root Images

Thanks

Indian grocery stores carry pickled lotus roots.Visit the nearby Indian grocery store, you may find more varieties.

chiman

We eat lotus root in soup. Its cooked whole in the soup with beef (bone in) pieces. Cooked with some dried mung beans too. Sometimes we add roasted squid for flavoring only. We cook it for hours at home. Then cut it into rings and eat it with the soup and beef. The larger ones are fibrous and stringy (for some thats part of the appeal). I think some cultures fry them but I'm not sure how they do this as we never eat it that way. Good luck with the lotus root, I'm sure you will find some recipes that suit you.
Meixue

Thanks, I was going to get a recipe from my friend's grandparents who are from Hong Kong that she said was really good.

Warning: If you happened to have too good of a night sleep, that is the result of eating Lotus Roots. I guess it can be a good thing for those that have the tendency of losing sleep. However, I know when I eat them just in a small amount, I will sleep as if I'm drugged! Couldn't get up : !

here is another lotus root recipe. Try stir frying it and then put a little soy sauce and sugar. yum yum.

I add lotus to stir fry dishes.

What species of Lotus does the edible lotus root come from?

Allen

I believe it's Nelumbo nucifera, Indian or Asian lotus. The seeds are also edible.

Wow, that thing has a big honkin' flower!!

Allen

Stir fry with some beef and oyster sauce. Hmmmm

yum