When life gives you lemongrass, make ... I have absolutely NO idea.
For the second time in the past few years I planted lemongrass in my front yard because in my imaginary world I cook a LOT with lemongrass. Mainly I do a lot of chicken and dips plus I've learned how to distill the essential oils from it, so the possibilities with THAT are endless.
Unfortunately as I said this is in my imaginary world.
In my real world I grow lemongrass, cut its stalks off, put them in the freezer and then throw them out when I need to make room for ice cream.
And no. Not lemongrass ice cream.
This year I anticipate it will be the same as I'm already conjuring up images of myself pounding out my lemongrass stalks into a concoction of ginger, soy and chile flakes. I'm also conjuring me making dinner in a pair of Artemis shoes that I don't own while holding a glass of wine which I don't drink. Yup. My imaginary world strikes again.
After hacking off some of my lemongrass stalks (just cut them barely above soil level) and bringing it inside I thought I may need to call in help for this one. It's not that I don't know how to cook with lemongrass and I usually have all the ingredients that go well with it, it's just that I haven't got into the habit of cooking with it.
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And also, I don't know if you've noticed this but lemongrass recipes, even the simplest ones, tend to part of recipes that require 897 other ingredients. It's never like, "Add the lemongrass to your other 3 ingredients". It's always, "Step 54: Add lemongrass to freshly secured fish eyeballs, making sure not to disturb your homemade fermented tequila tinged miso paste."
So I never (or rarely( cook with lemongrass.
To try to head this off at the pass I'm hoping you're going to be able to help me out and lead me in the right direction.
Do YOU have a recipe that includes lemongrass that you love? Does it have less than 897 ingredients and does it take fewer than 4 days to make it?
I'm hoping you do.
Because if you don't, I might as well forego the whole freezer facade and stock up on ice cream.
Have a good weekend!
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Kat
I love to throw a stall or four into the crockpot while making bone or any broth. It really adds an extra layer of flavor that's just so nice! Every time I make broth it's a little different, but my favorite ones are when I can get lemongrass or use the outer bits of fennel bulb. Don't remember if I used both at the same time...? They only sold lemongrass here for a short while. I miss it!
(Ps. I also add lemon or lime juice to the broth during cooking and before serving, can still taste the unique flavor of the lemongrass separately from the lemon juice.)
ISABEL MARTINS FLECHA DE LIMA
in Brazil, in the past, we used lemongrass to perfume laundry. i think it was seeped in hot water to get the most of the essence, and the water was then used for the last rinse.
you should give it a try.
also, you could try distilling it to obtain lemongrass essential oil. lovely smell.
Karen
I'd love to distill it but I already have soooo many hobbies. I don't need to get addicted to yet another. ;) ~ karen!
Penny
I have made lemon grass cooking wreaths. You intertwine various herbs you like with the lemon grass and make into a heart shape or circle and when cooking a chicken soup just toss into the pot for seasoning. These make great inexpensive holiday gifts to friends and family you love!
melissa
Use it like a bay leaf in any kind of coconut milk dish- think curries or soup. I usually don't use a recipe, but I'm sure there are some basic non-billion ingredients out there (esp. if you use a premade curry paste).
Tom Kai Gai soup, which is a coconut thai soup, is my favorite.
Wendy Hett
Well, thanks to you, I now have a new shoe company obsession. I should stop reading you altogether for this exact reason...but I just can't, and I won't.
Karen
They're GREAT shoes. ~ karen!
Shannon
Um .... so how do you make the essential oil ?
Patricia
I knowyou have 100 comments already so my first thought is why leave a comment! Im sure you're already overwhelmed but what the heck! I have made tis recipe like 4 times too! I floods this recipe under the title " teaching lazy bachelors how to cook a basic curry" by gordon ramsay on YouTube. So i thought, hey if they can so it, So can i. I think this is the link https://youtu.be/606QlJ6uud0 . you're lucky to have fresh lemon grass, mine from the grocer is never fresh . so my advice would be to double or tripple or more the curry in this recipe and freeze it, divided. Then you can pull it out and put it on chicken in your skillet, very easy!
Karen
Thanks Patricia, Ill have a look! Gordon is my go to guy for sensible cooking! ~ karen
Eddie Cummings
Even if you don't use it in a recipe it makes a attractive, interesting grassy plant, I like using it in containers when I want a grassy look, The smell is great !!