Lemongrass

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a common ingredient in soups, sauces, and drinks in many Asian cuisines, especially in Thai cuisine. This herb is native to India and is commonly distilled to make citronella oil, which is still popular in India today. In the past, lemongrass was sometimes known as “fever grass” because it was believed to quickly reduce fevers.

When is Lemongrass in season?

How to store Lemongrass?

When cooking, fresh lemongrass is ideal because dried lemongrass loses much of its flavor and aroma.

When selecting fresh lemongrass, look for stalks with chubby bulbs and shabby but not dried leaves.

To store fresh lemongrass leaves, plant the bulb back into a pot of soil to stimulate new growth (as long as the plant isn’t too damaged).

What to make with leftover Lemongrass?

Rubbing lemongrass oil onto one’s skin may repel flies and mosquitos but can also attract bees.

Lemongrass can act as a great toner for skin as it helps reduce extra oil. All you need to do is boil the leaves in some water, and then make ice cubes out of the drained liquid.

Food Science

Lemongrass possesses antibacterial and antifungal compounds, which are responsible for many of its healing properties. This herb contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, and Zinc. These nutrients help regulate heart rate, blood flow, blood pressure and fluid balance.

Cooking tips for Lemongrass

Mixing lemongrass with soy sauce, ginger, red chili flakes, salt, pepper, sugar, honey, garlic, onion, and lemon juice makes a great marinade for pork chops and stew.

Although lemongrass is a herb, it is unique in that it has to be cooked or boiled to release its wonderful lemon, mint, and ginger aroma and taste.

If you use fresh lemongrass along with other herbs and do not want to strain out the remnants of these ingredients after the cooking process is complete, you can use ordinary string or kitchen twine to tie all the herbs together to form a bouquet garni.

What are the health benefits of Lemongrass?

Applying lemongrass oil to sore muscles can help relieve symptoms of muscular discomfort.

Adding lemongrass to jasmine tea or boiling a few lemongrass stalks in plain water creates a drink that may help relieve cold and fever symptoms. This drink has also been said to aid digestion, relieve stress and anxiety, and settle an upset stomach.