People have been using lemongrass both as an herbal remedy and for cooking for thousands of years. Have you tried using it in your own cooking?
Thai restaurants almost always use lemongrass in their dishes. Why not try using lemongrass when you’re cooking at home?
Let’s talk about how you can use lemongrass when you cook your next Thai-inspired meal. Read on to learn more.
What Is Lemongrass?
As the name implies, Lemongrass is an herb that smells and tastes somewhat citrusy. It grows in Southeast Asia and does well in tropical climates. You’ll often find it in Southeast Asian food (like Tom Yum, curries and other Thai cuisine options).
Fresh lemongrass tastes mostly like lemon, but can also have hints of ginger and mint. Fresh lemongrass may have a different taste from dried lemongrass.
Should You Use Fresh or Dried Lemongrass?
Speaking of fresh and dried lemongrass, you can use lemongrass either way.
Fresh lemongrass is always the best option if you have access to it. Because you can grow lemongrass indoors at home as long as you have a sunny window, if you make Thai food often, it may be in your best interest to keep a small pot of lemongrass growing year-round!
Fresh lemongrass won’t dry out in your meals. If you’re making fried dishes, that makes fresh lemongrass an obvious choice.
In soups and stews you can get away with using dried lemongrass if it’s necessary to do so. You won’t get as “bright” of a flavor, but I will work in a pinch.
How Do You Prepare Lemongrass?
If you have whole lemongrass, you’re going to want to start by rinsing it.
Cut off the bulbs and roots. If there are outer leaves, remove those as well. The part of the lemongrass you want to use is tender and yellow.
You have options here. You can chop the lemongrass into small and thin pieces if you plan on including it in the meal itself. You want to make sure that the pieces are small enough to not change the texture of the food. You can also put it in a food processor to get rid of the stringy texture.
You can also chop your lemongrass into larger pieces (even several inches long) if you plan on removing the pieces from the food when it’s finished cooking. If you choose to do this, bruise the lemongrass first. You can bend them or use the dull end of your knife to do this.
You don’t want to leave large pieces of lemongrass in the food, so try to remove all of it before you serve (or eat) your meal.
If you have dried lemongrass you want to add it when there’s hot liquid so the herb can rehydrate.
Try Using Lemongrass in Your Thai Cuisine
If you haven’t already given it a shot, why not try using lemongrass in your Thai food? It will add a fresh new dimension to your meals! If you want Thai food but you’re not interested in cooking, let us cook for you! Thai Ginger has all of your favorite Thai dishes. Visit us or order online today.