Lemon Grass Herb-of-the-week

This week I’m choosing a different Lemon grass Herb for this week’s Herb-of-the Week post. I love lemon plants and this one has useful uses, both in tea or cooking and tea. Even if your area doesn’t suit the plant, it is possible to grow the herb in an elevated bed or in a pot. I hope you’ll try it and appreciate this herb, which many people consider as only suitable to use in Asian food items.

History

Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon citatus) wasn’t brought to the notice in the West for its culinary or medicinal plant until after the emergence of the modern age. It is now widely grown, and especially in hot climates, it’s likely to be utilized for the distillation of the essential oil that is utilized for commercial perfume and cleaning products. However, it is also a fantastic food plant.

To Grow

It is a tropical perennial that can be used as an annual plant across the United States as it is resilient in zones 9 and 10. In Illinois it can grow up to 5 feet within a single year. It grows as an elongated clump, with long flat grassy leaves, about 1/4 inches in width. The blades’ edges have fine serrated edges and should be handled with care since they could cut the skin, particularly at the end of the season, in the season when the blade is more stiff. Except in tropical regions, it is not a flowering plant.

It is cultivated in pots, or used as an accent plant that can be replaced in the garden. For either, it requires the right soil that is well-drained and fertile that is moist. It requires a temperature of 45-50 degrees F therefore, do avoid planting it in the garden early and prepare to harvest it in exactly the time you pick the end of season Basil. I tend to plant in raised beds and have an opportunity to manage the depth of the soil. It also gives roots more space to expand than a container dies. Sometimes in the fall, I take a plant uprooted to put in the winter. It requires a hot long summer with plenty of moisture in order for it to get large enough to make use of for Asian cuisine.

To Use

In Asia It is those stems with a thickened appearance close to the roots, which look like leek leaves. They can be cut into pieces and are used to make stir-frys in Thailand, Malaysia and southeast Asia. It is available fresh from some stores and in Asian markets, it’s called “Sereh.” The leaves however can be cut and harvested anytime for tea. At the close of the season they could be retrieved and dried to dry in the winter for use. They can also be used as a flavoring for stir fries and are also used to make sauces or stocks of fish. Fresh leaves can be cut and sprayed on prawns, fish, as well as other seafood to enhance the flavor. If they are used for a long time the leaves should be taken off prior to serving just like Bay leaves, these come with sharp edges. They can be combined with lemon and orange for an orange-based potpourri. The leaves must be dried under a dark, cool place so that the color can be preserved.

For the extraction of lemongrass’ essential oil all you have to do is expose the leaves of lemongrass to distillation by steam. The extracted lemongrass oil smells strong and taste like ginger. Essential oil contains antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can be found in lotions and creams that treat Rheumatic pains and aches as well as the athlete’s foot. Tea may help in the treatment of gastric issues and indigestion. Essential oils are used in soaps, perfumes and cosmetics. It’s particularly beneficial for skin that is oily and also for home-based fragrances like potpourri and scented sachets. I like it as a bath salt and candle.

Regarding the medicinal benefits, Chinese herbalists are employing lemongrass oil for treating ailments and colds like stomachaches, fungal infections and digestive issues muscles cramps, spasms as well as toothaches and the pain of rheumatic arthritis. It is also possible to make an herbal preparation from lemongrass that is utilized in shampooing hair. As its other plant, citronella, you can make use of it as an insecticide or repellent for rodents in the household. It has a high content of a substance called citral. It is the principal component in the lemon peel. The substance has been reported to help digestion and also relieve muscles cramps and spasms as well as headaches, and rheumatism.

It is also employed commercially for its lemon fragrance is used in a variety of products, including candles, soaps and perfumes. The plant that is related to it, (Cymbopogon Nardus) is used as the main ingredient used in citronella candles that are sold to repel mosquitoes and other bugs.

Recipes

Lemon Grass Sprimp

1 pound medium shrimp cleaned and deveined

12 mushrooms, cut in half

1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained

4 cups of water

2 lemon grass

4 kaffir lime leaves

4 slices galangal

4 Chile Padi (bird’s eye Chiles)

1 1/2 tablespoons of fish sauce

1 1/2 limes juiced

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 teaspoon paste of hot chile

1 tablespoon of tom yum soup paste (optional)

Directions

1. Cut lemongrass into matchstick-sized pieces.
2. In order to make stock, add shrimp heads and shells into the water and simmer for 20 minutes. Switch off the flame. Let the shells and head soak for another 20 minutes prior to throwing them away.
3. Include liquid, lemon grass galangal chili padi, fish sauce, lime juice chili paste and sugar into a pot. Bring to an unbeatable boil.
4. After simmering for five minutes After 5 minutes, add shrimps as well as the two mushrooms. Cook for an additional 10 minutes. Sprinkle by slicing coriander leaves.

Lemon Grass Green Beans & Scallops

1 shallot, cut across the middle

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon olive

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup of finely chopped pineapple

1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

One tablespoon of lemongrass very finely chopped

1 teaspoon of cilantro, perfectly chopped

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon vinegar from apple cider

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

1/8 teaspoon of red pepper Flakes

4 teaspoons olive oil extra-virgin

salt to the taste

1/2 1 lb French Green beans cut

2 tablespoons of safflower oil

Four large sea scallops

Directions

1. One teaspoon olive oil is heated in a large skillet on moderate temperature.
2. Add the shallot to the mix as well as 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook with a stirring motion until the shallot is become soft, which should take about 5 minutes.
3. Combine pineapple, shallots and ginger with lemongrass and cilantro with honey, sesame seeds and vinegar red pepper chips and extra olive oil that is virgin, as well as salt and mix in the bowl. Set aside.
4. Put a steamer in an oven-proof saucepan. Fill it with water until it is barely below the surface of the steamer. Cover the steamer, and then bring the water to a rolling boil on an extremely high temperature.
5. Incorporate the green beans. return them to the steamer, and cook until they are tender, between two to six minutes, based on the thickness.
6. Then, immediately immerse them in cold water for about 15 minutes or until it is cold enough to end your cooking. When the beans are chilled, remove them from the water and then set aside.
7. Warm the oil for safflower in a large pan on high heat. Then, thoroughly dry every scallop. After a few light wisps can be seen in the oil of safflower, take care to place the scallops carefully in the skillet.
8. Sear the scallops to they are golden brown and not movement, around 1 minute. Turn the scallop over and cook until the desired degree of doneness is achieved, approximately 90 minutes.
9. Switch off the flame and then remove the scallops from the pan. Add green beans to the hot skillet and cook for one minute. Serve the scallops with green beans. Top with a pineapple salsa.

Lemon Grass Hair Rinse

The rinse can be used for a substitute to wash your hair if you do not want your hair to get frizzy, but need to keep it looking fresh. The chamomile can add an extra shine to hair and the oils that are essential to the lemongrass cover and protect hair.

6 cups of water

2 tablespoons loose chamomile

2 tablespoons loose lemongrass leaves, chopped

Optional: Add 1 drop of essential oil to perfume the hair

Let the water come to boiling in a large pot. Then turn the heat to its lowest setting. Pour in teas, and cook under cover for about 10 minutes. Take off heat and let cool with a cover until temperatures of room temperature. Strain to reserve liquid before throwing away tea. If adding essential oils, do so now. Put the mixture into an aerosol bottle (use funnels) and then store it in the fridge until needed.

To Use

After the shower, and following the first washing with shampoo (optional) Spray your hair with the rinse solution and then wring hair out (you might rinse it with water but don’t completely rinse out). Spray the rinse mixture again when drying or hair styling.

Backyard Patch Backyard Patch makes Lemon Grass Bath Salts that smell of lemongrass and a variety of teas with lemongrass. To view these, and more products offered by The Backyard Patch,