One of the reasons why lemon zest is the best substitute for lemongrass is that lemons are easily available all year round. Just don’t overdo it, otherwise it will overpower the other flavours and make your dish overly acidic.

If you’re using fresh kaffir lime leaves you’ll need to crush them in your hands before adding them to your recipe. Fresh lemongrass stalks work best in dishes like soups and slow-roasted meats that simmer for long periods of time.If you’re trying to find a lemongrass paste substitute, I recommend adding some chopped garlic since that’s a common ingredient in the paste form! Release the remaining pressure manually by moving the pressure release knob into the venting position. For instance, if your recipe demands using one stalk of lemongrass, you may consider using one teaspoon of dried lemongrass as a substitute.

The Greedy Gourmet shares you can use lemon juice or zest in place of lemongrass, sharing that lemon zest is probably the closest substitute in both texture and flavor. Place the stalks into a glass of shallow water, covering the bulb, and then pop them in a sunny position on your windowsill. Depending on the size of the lemongrass, you will likely be left with four to six inches of remaining stalk. Additionally, they note that if you are just looking for a subtle flavor of lemongrass, you can use the less acidic, but slightly sweeter, juice or zest from a lime as an alternative. Remove the root ends of the lemongrass stalks using a kitchen knife or shears and trim away the woody, dry parts and the tough outer layers, leaving the tender inner portions.When you've reached the inner core, you should be able to slice into the herb with little resistance. Lemon juice is optional and you can use a sweetener of your choice like agave, maple syrup, sugar, or jaggery. Once you have your lemongrass chopped up, use a food processor to make smaller, more bite sized and chewable pieces if desired.

Making lemongrass tea is a breeze and does not take much time, so it can be made whenever you want to sip on this amazing drink. As the name suggests, lemongrass has a scent and flavour similar to that of a lemon, but there are also some noticeable differences. You can either use the leaves whole or slit them to above the midrib before adding them to your recipe. As a lemongrass substitute they help to recreate some of the citrus punch, which can be enhanced with a dash of lime juice if you’d like. Place the lemongrass on a cutting board, then take a sharp chef’s knife or paring knife and remove the top of the stem, so you are left with only the bottom 7-8cm, then also remove the lower 1.iv] To make sure that it retains its essence and increase shelf life, use tight-fitting containers for storing lemongrass. Richmond Howard started Meal Prepify in 2019 and has helped over a million people learn how to meal prep, get better at meal planning, and create a kitchen they love to use. You can dehydrate lemongrass in several ways, including air drying, oven drying, and using a food dehydrator. If this alcoholic beverage is not your cup of tea, lemongrass can literally be made into a delicious tea to sip on.

Before using in your cooking, you’ll need to spend a little time preparing these ingredients so that they can be stirred into your food and add flavor but not disrupt the overall texture. To get the most flavor out of lemon grass, use a knife or cleaver to bruise the bulb and then mince the pieces. It adds a bright, citrusy and floral-herbal fragrance to anything it touches, from curries and soups to salads and grilled meat, so if you’re looking to elevate your plate, make sure you have some on standby in the fridge or freezer.Lemongrass has a lighter, more herbal flavour, with hints of ginger and mint, and even a suggestion of floral notes. The bulb, leaves and most of the stem are too tough and fibrous to be used in cooking, with the only edible part of the plant being the tender part of the bottom third of the stem. If you used ground lemongrass powder, substitute 1 teaspoon ground for one stalk of fresh lemongrass.