How to Use Lemon Grass

Last Updated: August 21, 2019 References

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

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]
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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.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cooking With Lemon Grass

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.^{[4]
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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.^{[5]
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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.^{[6]
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- 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.^{[7]
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Community Q&A

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.
Question

Can lemongrass leaves be used in a broth or for steaming?

Community 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.
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.