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Prepare and cook with lemongrass like a pro
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methods
1Preparing Lemon Grass
2Cooking With Lemon Grass
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Article Summary
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Last Updated: March 21, 2024References
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Lemon grass is a tropical grass with a lemony scent and taste that's used in cooking. It is typically sold fresh, but it's also available dried and powdered. Lemon grass is common in Thai, Vietnamese, and Sri Lankan dishes, and it's also becoming popular in other cuisines. You can use lemon grass in dishes ranging from soups to desserts.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:
Preparing Lemon Grass
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1
Keep pieces small for eating and larger for flavoring. Use the entire stalk, which will be cut and prepped in different ways depending on the dish.
- The tough, bigger pieces of lemon grass are meant to flavor dishes. These larger pieces generally are not eaten. Consider straining large pieces out before serving. However, some people enjoy sucking on them for their flavor.
2
Discard the dry, outermost stalks and cut off the top third of the inner stalks.[1]
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3
Trim each root tip until the purple rings are visible.[2]
4
Keep fresh lemon grass in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Store it in a plastic bag that's securely sealed. You can freeze lemon grass for as long as 6 months.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:
Cooking With Lemon Grass
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1
Pair lemon grass with other spices and ingredients to add exotic flavor to recipes. Lemon grass is often coupled with coconut milk, chiles, cilantro, and garlic.
2
Bruise the bulb by smashing it with the side of a wide knife or cleaver, then mince the bulb for use in a variety of recipes. Bruising will free the aromatic oils for cooking.[3]
3
Add very thin slices of lemon grass to salads. Slicing thinly breaks the stalk's tough fibers so that the pieces can be chewed and swallowed with ease.[4]
4
Cut the bulb diagonally in rounds measuring about 1/4 inch (.5 cm) long. Add the rounds to stir fries.
5
Slice the stalk at an angle to create sections approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) in length. Bruise the pieces and toss them into simmered recipes such as soups.
6
Make a paste by pounding thin slices of lemon grass. Add the paste to curry dishes and other recipes.
7
Flavor vodka with lemon grass.
- Clean and bruise a lemon grass stalk.
- Steep the stalk for 3 to 4 days in a nearly full bottle of vodka. Shake the bottle occasionally.
- Take out the stalk after steeping.
8
Make tea with lemon grass by steeping pieces in hot water.[5]
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Community Q&A
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Question
Can lemon grass tea be kept and drank after one day?
Community Answer
Absolutely yes, just like normal tea. Keep it in the fridge and have it as iced lemon grass tea. As a tip, add some honey, ginger, and mint leaves.
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Question
Can lemongrass leaves be used in a broth or for steaming?
See AlsoHow to Cook With LemongrassCommunity Answer
Several sources say that fresh lemongrass can make broths too bitter, but the muted flavor of dried leaves might have less punch. Another thought is to use the fresh leaves to line bamboo steamers when cooking fish, vegetables, and dumplings.
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Question
Can I make lemongrass candy?
Community Answer
Yes, but candy is difficult to make if you do not know what you are doing. Try making a simple syrup with some lemongrass leaves. You can then use the infused simple syrup to put in the candy.
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Tips
Lemon grass is believed to have medicinal qualities. Herbalists have prescribed lemon grass for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including cramps, colds, and influenza. It's also used in aromatherapy to promote relaxation.[6]
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The flavor intensity of lemon grass varies widely depending on the climate where it was grown. It's best to season by taste rather than using quantities listed in recipes.
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Things You'll Need
- Lemon grass
- Knife
- Cleaver
- Cooking equipment
- Plastic bags
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References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfdyugZNZX0
- ↑ https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/199963/how-to-cook-with-lemongrass/
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/cooking-tips-techniques/how-to-use-lemongrass
- ↑ https://healthynibblesandbits.com/spring-salad-lemongrass-vinaigrette/
- ↑ https://thewanderlustkitchen.com/addictive-fresh-lemongrass-tea/
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-719/lemongrass
- http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/ingredients/lemongrass.html
- http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/knowhow/glossary/lemongrass/
- http://www.sallybernstein.com/food/columns/gilbert/lemon_grass.htm
About This Article
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 326,990 times.
31 votes - 87%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: March 21, 2024
Views:326,990
Categories: Herbs and Spices
Article SummaryX
If you want to use lemon grass while cooking, try pairing chopped lemon grass with other spices, like chilies, cilantro, and garlic, for exotic tastes. To get the most flavor out of lemon grass, use a knife or cleaver to bruise the bulb and then mince the pieces. If you want to use lemon grass on a salad, cut it into thin slivers so it's easier to chew and eat. You can even steep chopped or slivered lemon grass pieces in hot water to make a refreshing tea! Keep reading for tips on cutting lemon grass to get the most flavor for a variety of dishes!
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