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.
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!
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
m'liss
Lots of ingredients, but the absolute best butternut squash soup, ever. Honestly, even without the pear garnish.
Butternut Squash-Chestnut Soup with Balsamic Caramelized Pears
https://www.delish.com/cooking/a1124/butternut-squash-chestnut-soup-recipe/
Vicki
Any Thai curry or soup! Also... thai mussels with coconut milk. YUM.
Also, no recipes here for you... because, you know. You can figure it out ;)
Beth Kollé
You make Tom Ka Gai - Thai chicken soup with coconut milk! It is the ultimate comfort food, and it doesn't take a lot of weird ingredients.
Here's a recipe from Bon Appetit: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/tom-kha-gai-chicken-coconut-soup
They give a substitute in case you can't find kaffir lime leaves (who can, in Canada?). Ginger is a must, as is chopped lemongrass. Make it with chicken or shrimp. Ladle it over some rice, you've got a good meal.
Cynthia
Chicken under a brick. Whole chicken, deboned with skin on. Butcher will do tghis for you. Mix 1/2 cup fresh parsley and 1/2 cup fresh thyme and 4-5 upper stalks of lemon grass, 5" long. Chop all three finely. Add just enough olive oil to make a herb paste. Flatten chicken, put on piece of aluminum foil on a hot grill. Pack herb concoction under the skin of the chicken, spread evenly. Salt and pepper chicken. Place another piece of foil on top of chicken, flatten with a brick. Cook till chicken's juice run clear. Remove foil/brick, and the skin and herb packing. Close top of grill and let chicken brown for a couple of minutes. Then place chicken on platter, let it rest for 5 minutes and carve and enjoy. Delicious and simple to prepare.
Raquel
Lemongrass Tea
Add to boiling water then simmer for 10 minutes, strain. Add honey to taste.
Hot or Cold it's delicious.
Nissa D Kendall
I had lemongrass tea that a coworker made recently and it was so good! Cut up some stalks, boil it in water, strain it, and add sugar or simple syrup. I have actually managed to grow this, so it must be a weed, and the making of the tea sounds like something I can do (boiling water), so I plan to try it.
Leslie Barnard
My son's girlfriend is from India. She makes Chai tea with lemongrass, cardamom and fresh grated ginger- along with, of course black or red (rooibos) tea. You can mix it with green tea as well. or steep the lemongrass alone. Maybe just dry it and stick it in a tea canister? I know it is an essential herb in Ayurveda for health.
Mary W
Very helpful post today! I'm going to be trying some of these easier uses very soon. Got to plant some lemongrass. I just put in some mint. Now to find the stevia as I think Walmart is capute with plants just now.
izzy
THAI FOOD!
Or simply, i chop/mince it, and throw in with red pepper flakes and chicken. Sautee and flavor with fish sauce. So good and easy! You can add ginger too, but not necessary. Eat with rice. I don't have actual recipe because I just eyeball it. I love lemongrass though, so i use a lot of it!
Karen
With a plant that big I would be tempted to call my local Thai restaurant and ask if they want any.
Sarah McDonnell
you can faux distill by putting lemongrass ( or any other herb) in a simmering pot of water with a smaller can or wide jar in the middle above the water line. Put an upside down lid on the simmering pot so that the vapor catches and runs down the lid to drip into the smaller can or jar. It's not as strong or consistent as buying EO on Amazon. But if life gives you lemongrass, make lemon...um...floor cleaner?? Paste wax?? Bath oil?? It works with flower petals, too. Don't get excited because it takes a LOT of petals to make a teeny something.
Karen
What a great way to make a pretend distiller! ~ karen
Peter
Ice cream goes with most things and is usually looked forward to. Lemongrass is not =, so forgo the angst and stock up on ice cream
Lilly
You want to make curry paste.
https://www.101cookbooks.com/curry-paste-recipe/
Carly
I'm not a fan of the taste of lemongrass - as others have said it's too soapy! The only way I have been okay with it was as a skewer for meats and veggies. I can't recall where I got that idea (was it you?!) but I've used it to make kebabs and it infuses *just* enough lemongrass-y flavor into whatever it's skewered into that I enjoy it. Meat, fish, veggies, whatever you like!
Jo
Oh! And how does it 'age' in the fall? Do you cut all the fronds?
Jo
Thanks to everyone for the recipes and other suggestions!
I TOO would like to know about how you grow lemongrass in Ontario Zone 5-ish?
Maybe 6.
As an annual plant from nursery? From seed? Or does it actually succeed as a perennial where you are?
Whether or not I use it in recipes or other concoctions or it would be nice too as a tantalizing ingredient in my own Imaginary life, I would like to plant a sweet lemony smelling grass that has Potential Uses...
Mary from Barrie
I grew 3 pots of lemongrass this summer and was just going to throw them away. But now you tell me I can freeze it?! And then throw it away later hahaha.
Carolyn
Happy to see this post because I never thought of freezing it for one thing and I had the same dilemma as you. The main think I was using it for is loose tea. I grow stevia and mint and use: 2 cups dried mint to 1/2 cup dried chopped lemon grass to 1/4 cup dried crushed stevia leaves. Makes a nice sweet tea. Great for gifts and does not have an aftertaste.
Teri on The Left Coast
I did not know lemongrass could grow in Canada. Never even thought about it. Just assumed it was tropical. Now looking for a start.
Also, please 'splain how your secateurs are so clean and new looking? Unless of course that is a, no doubt well deserved, new pair. Mine look like, how can I put this? — old friends. And that is after I’ve replaced the cutting bits and spring with spare parts from Lee Valley.
Karen
I'm not sure! They're just my regular secateurs. I mean, I try not to cut asphalt with them and never molasses but other than that ... no special treatment. ~ karen!
Dave
On Sunday evenings we make our lunches to take to work for the week. This is one of our favourites. I guess you could cut back the portions, but seriously, you'll want to eat this every day until it's all gone.
Thai Coconut Curry Chicken
Makes about 10 manly servings
Ingredients:
1 Costco tray of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or whatever you like, with skin, breasts, whatever)
Salt & pepper to taste
4 tablespoons butter
4 14oz cans of coconut milk
4 tablespoons corn starch
1 141g box of creamed coconut
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced ginger
½ cup red curry paste
3 large onions, chopped
6 carrots, sliced
3 red peppers, chopped
4 cups sugar snap peas, stem end and thick vein removed
4-5 sticks lemongrass, dry end and outer leaf removed, chop into 3 or 4 sections
2-3 cups mushrooms, quartered
Juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
3 Thai chilli peppers, seeded and minced
½ cup chopped cilantro
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Season chicken with salt & pepper.
Melt butter in large oven proof skillet or Dutch oven over medium high heat.
Sear chicken until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
Remove extra fat from pan if using chicken with skin.
In a large bowl, whisk coconut milk and corn starch and set aside.
Add garlic and ginger to pan and cook a minute or two.
Whisk in curry paste until well combined.
Add onion and carrots, cook until onions just start to soften.
Add peppers, sugar snap peas, lemongrass and mushrooms and cook for a minute or two.
Add coconut milk mixture and creamed coconut and stir until well incorporated and mixture bubbles and thickens slightly.
Add lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, Thai chilli peppers and cilantro and stir.
Return chicken to pan (if you're making a huge batch, you may need to use a big roasting pan) and place into oven and roast, uncovered, until chicken is completely cooked through (165 degree internal temperature) about 30 minutes.
Remove lemon grass pieces before serving.
Serve over jasmine rice.
Karen
I would probably only need to make enough for 2 manly servings, lol. I have all of that stuff except for the "box of creamed coconut". Is that even a thing?? ~ karen!
tiffany
can buy creamed coconut in a box from Bulk Barn