Lemongrass

lemongrass

lem·​on·​grass

Lemongrass is a tall tropical plant that grows as a grass.

Origin: Indonesia, Indochina and tropical Australia

Recipes: Lemongrass is a main ingredient found in Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian dishes. When you enter one of these restaurants, the fresh aroma smell is -- lemongrass.

One of my favorite Thai dishes is Tom Yum soup – the distinct ginger and lemongrass flavor is a perfect blend of deliciousness.

In cooking, only the bottom part of the grass is used. It can be used in a dry, fresh or frozen form.

Here’s a recipe to Tom Yum (yum!) Soup goodness.

Another favorite is Lemongrass Chicken Vietnamese style.

Serve it up with some white rice and enjoy a wonderful Asian home-cooked meal.

Cure: Lemongrass has several healing qualities. It can be used to make an amazing tea that can be used as a diuretic to detox or to regulate cholesterol. A combination of lemongrass and pepper also promotes digestion and can be used to relieve nausea and cramps. It is also known to calm the nerves. To make a lovely cup of lemongrass tea – iced or hot – follow these easy steps.

Purchase stalks at a grocery store
Cut the stalks into 1- to 2-inch pieces
Boil a cup of water
Pour the boiling water over the lemongrass stalks to steep
Leave the stalks in the water for at least 5 minutes
Strain the liquid from the stalks and pour into a teacup
Adding ice cubes will create a cold lemongrass tea
The tea should have a fresh, citrusy taste. A person should start with one cup of lemongrass tea per day, then add more to their diet over the next days if they wish to.

With its lemony scent, it can be used as a deodorizer to keep the air smelling fresh, in soaps and also used as an insect repellent. Yes, it can keep the insects away.

Lemongrass is such a versatile spice, you can make some chicken on the grill, boil up a nice cup of tea or use as an oil to keep those pesky bugs away.