I planted lemon grass from seed. It was more of an experiment than anything else. I didn't think it would grow. It was kind of an after thought. Well, it grew. It is probably 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide (the bush, not the blades of grass). It is actually crowding out some of the other herbs in my herb garden. What do I do with it? I know it is culinary but what sort of food? Asian, Indian? Do you use it fresh or dry it? Any ideas would be great because I do need to trim it back or something and I would hate to have it go to waste.
Thanks!
Laura
What to do with Lemon Grass
You can use it in stir fry recipes. They say to harvest blades of grass and use only the tender new growth at the base of each blade. Tender growth can be chopped in small pieces and added to stir fry or other recipes for flavor. Be careful as the grass can give you papercuts from the edges. I got a pot of it this year and kept it in the pot. I haven't used it in cooking but have done some reading. You might google for recipes. I will be interested in seeing what answer you find here. You also might have to dig up and divide as you will have plenty to share...
It's used in lots of Thai recipies.... nice addition to those "Taste of Thai" curry pastes that come in those pouches (you just add veggies, meat, coconut milk if desired). Lemon grass is also a nice addition to herbal teas.
Yum, I love Thai food. It is huge, I will go out (when these torrential rains let up) and see if I can divide it. I might try moving it to a pot so it doesn't take over the garden.
Thanks!
Laura
I used to grow lemongrass and overwinter it indoors, but as soon as I brought it in, the kitties would chomp on it all day long.
It doesn't seem to hurt *them* any.
I grew it for Thai food, but It does make a nice tea, and you can flavor sorbet and cold drinks with it too.
Now they chomp on my miniature pineapple leaves instead. ggrr!
I freeze spearmint and peppermint and drop the ice cubes in iced tea. It's pretty, and adds to the flavor. I wonder if lemon grass wouldn't do the same thing?
I think that sounds like a tasty addition, although people might wonder why you're putting grass in the ice cubes, LOL! I like to add mint, lemon grass, etc. when I'm brewing tea for iced tea, also. I just chop it up a bit and add it to the hot water along with the teabag(s) and steep for several minutes.
PAllenSmith has a wonderful recipe in his newsletter right now for
Crab Cakes with lLemongrass Mustard Mayo.
I am going to try it tonight. :o)
S
Here is a Thai dish that uses lemon grass. It is meat spiced up and served cold with veggies around the edges. It is yummy. They call it Laab and they make it out of chicken, catfish, pork and probably every other meat and fish. :
http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/recipes/lahb.html
Here is another laab recipe with pictures. It doesn't include lemon grass, but actually, lemon grass is traditional in the dish. Just slice the tender insides of one stem very very thinly and combine it with the shallot, etc.
http://www.thaitable.com/Thai/recipes/Laab.htm
You can get dried galenga from an Asian grocery or order it from Penzey's:
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html
or Temple of Thai
http://www.templeofthai.com/food/spices/
You can get toasted (roasted) rice at an Asian market, already powdered:
http://www.templeofthai.com/food/spices/
You can also make your own, easily:
"Note: If you are not able to find ground toasted rice in Southeast Asian markets, it can be made by browning uncooked glutinous rice in a dry skillet (preferably cast iron), stirring frequently until the grains are evenly a rich brown color and fragrant. Allow to cool to room temperature before grinding in a clean coffee grinder. Adds a wonderful toasted aroma." from Kasma Loha Unchit's web recipe for Laab
Can you tell I really like this dish? And by the way, I have to protect my lemongrass from my dogs who love it. I do envy your ability to grow lemon grass outside. I say, when it creeps into another plant's spot, eat it!
Pajaritomt ~ Whoa, what kind of dogs? The grass I have can offer up wicked papercuts. Your dogs must be tough.
A lot of animals seem to have tougher mouths than us humans. One of my cats once ate sedge grass that had really sharp, saw-toothed edges, and they all eat lemongrass if they can get to it. I've seen goats eat blackberry brambles right down to the soil line; I guess they chew up the thorns. Amazing.
oops, typos-- had to edit so it made sense
This message was edited Jul 22, 2006 6:48 PM
It makes sense, I have 2 dogs and 4 cats at present time so understand. I just marvel at how tough, resilient, silly they can be. pod
Pajaritomt - yum! Those recipes sound wonderful I will definetly give it a try. I love Thai food.
I have noticed one of my dogs eating it too. I thought she was just weird!
Laura
My dogs are Keeshonds ( kind of like a Norwegian elk hound). They also love raspberry leaves. They seem to like anything people make tea out of. I never saw any sign that it hurt their mouths, but I think my lemon grass was wimpy. It likes hot, wet weather, which you are lucky enough to have. Here in Northern New Mexico the weather is cool and dry. Still lemon grass grows a bit.
Thai food is out of this world. When I find them, I will pass on a couple of recipes I have for hot and spicy green beans and another for eggplant cooked the same way.
Have fun with the wonderful fresh Thai spices you can grow!
Betty
BTW another thai food ingredient you can grow is galangal--it's in the ginger family. I have successfully rooted rhizomes I got at the grocery store. That's actually how I got my first lemongrass and turmeric plants, too--from rooting grocery store purchases.
Yes, I knew you could. And I used to grow ginger when I lived in New Orleans -- Galengal and turmeric are a kinds of ginger. Fresh turmeric and coconut milk simmered fish is fabulous. The flavor is very mild and the color is a beautiful creamy yellow.
Now that I live in a drought area, I decided I would have to buy my gingers and lemon grass at the store, but in laab, they use dried powdered galenga even when fresh is available.
You are so lucky to live in a rainy climate. I get tired of conserving water. Of course the dry air is wonderful.
Our climate is weird actually; rainy Oct-June and practically drought in summer. We have giant rain barrels everywhere--but by now they're nearly empty, and I use soaker hoses the first year on new beds.