Lemongrass

See Recipes with Lemongrass

Storage Tips: When buying fresh Lemon Grass, look for stalks that are firm, not rubbery, and pale yellow to light green in color.

Store fresh Lemon Grass in a tightly sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Lemon Grass can also be frozen whole for up to 6 months in an airtight container.

Usage Ideas: Lemon Grass can be used whole to flavor dishes such as soups or sauces. In this case, simple trim off the ends, remove the outer leaves, and bend or dent the stalks in several places to release the oils. If you want to prepare Lemon Grass to be eaten as part of your dish, use a sharp knife to thinly slice the yellow part of the stalks and pound out with a meat mallet or puree in a food processor until soft.

To soften Lemon Grass for use in uncooked dishes, prepare as directed above, then boil the stalks in water or broth for 10 minutes, strain, and dry with paper towels.

Fun Facts: Lemon Grass is most commonly found in Thai cooking, but has gained popularity on other Asian and Indian dishes (10)

Lemon or lime juice can be used in place of Lemon Grass, but the flavor of these citrus fruits is not the same as the pungent Lemon Grass

Lemon Grass contains a compound called citral, which is believed to aid in digestion and relieve spasms and muscle cramps (3)