Lemongrass, the lifelong enemy of some people

When it comes to ingredients that are “one man’s meat may be another man’s poison”, we have already introduced Houttuynia cordata and Litsea cubeba. Today, I would like to introduce another heavyweight player: lemongrass .

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), also known as lemongrass and citronella , is a grass with a lemony smell.

People who like the smell of lemons will love it and love all kinds of food made with it as a seasoning. But people who don't like lemongrass have different dislikes. Some people think it smells like ginger, while others think it smells like detergent.

Dried lemongrass | AliExpress.com

The scent of citronella: lemon or ginger? ‍‍‍‍Citronella is a general term for more than 50 kinds of aromatic plants in the genus Cymbopogon of the Poaceae family. Among them, Citronella and Cymbopogon are mainly used to extract essential oils, while lemongrass is mainly used as a food ingredient .

Lemongrass has only been used in perfumery since the early 20th century, and is used in soaps, perfumes, detergents, candles and other products. Lemongrass essential oil has antifungal effects and can be used as a preservative. Planting citronella in your garden can also prevent insects.

Lemongrass丨plantfreak.wordpress

The lemony scent of citronella comes from citral, geranyl aldehyde and limonene . These lemony chemicals give the seemingly ordinary thatch a unique fragrance.

If stewed, the aroma of lemongrass will become softer and sweeter, with a hint of ginger. This is because after heating, the main aroma of lemongrass becomes nerolidol .

Picked lemongrass丨eat.sh

Lemongrass is a perennial herb , and the tallest plants can reach 2 meters in height. The plants grow in clusters, with green stems; the leaves grow around the stems, mostly green (the color depth varies depending on the cultivation environment), up to 1 meter in length, and about 1.5 to 3 cm in width. Lemongrass, native to South Asia, prefers a sunny and warm environment and is relatively drought-resistant.

The main difference between Citronella and Citronella and lemongrass is that the part of the stem near the root of the former two is magenta, while this part of lemongrass is whitish (with a hint of pink).

Citronella丨daisyandco.com.au

The soul of Southeast Asian cuisine

Lemongrass is the most suitable lemongrass for cooking. Generally, the stems and leaves are used, and they can be fresh or dried. Fresh lemongrass can be ground, sliced, or cut into sections. The simpler way to process it is to fold it several times with your hands until it is small enough to fit into the pot.

Cut into pieces丨Green Schoo

Lemongrass tea is very easy to make. If it is fresh lemongrass, cut it into pieces and boil it in water. If it is dried lemongrass leaves, just grab a handful and soak it in hot water. You can also add honey or mix it with other herbal teas according to your taste. You can try the mixed flavors of different ingredients to find your favorite. Even if I just make a simple honey lemongrass tea, I can be happy for a long time, as if I have drunk something precious.

Lemongrass is used a lot in Southeast Asian dishes, such as two of my favorite soups: Thai Tom Yum Goong (which means hot and sour shrimp soup) and coconut milk curry soup.

You can make your own Tom Yum Goong soup at home with fresh or dried ingredients, or you can buy ready-made soup cubes or Tom Yum Goong paste and add some extra ingredients (usually coconut milk and lemon juice).

Tom Yum Soup丨siciwonderwall.blogspot

The ingredients used in coconut milk curry soup are similar to those in Tom Yum Goong soup. You can add shrimp or chicken, or just leave out the meat. The coconut flavor of coconut milk curry soup is stronger. Once I start to eat it, I can't stop eating it. I often stick my tongue out because of the spiciness.

Coconut Milk Curry Soup | flyingwithjustin.blogspot

Lemongrass is also great for barbecue. Ever since I first went to Yunnan and had the local specialty of grilled tilapia with lemongrass , I fell in love with the taste. Every time I go to Yunnan, I always order this dish whenever I have the chance.

Lemongrass Grilled Tilapia丨tulaoshi

Stir-fried dishes with lemongrass are also very delicious. For example, chicken nuggets fried with lemongrass are fragrant, spicy and crispy.

Fried chicken with lemongrass丨Photo: @鹰之舞

Author: Eagle Dance, Shi Jun