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In the Kitchen: Lemongrass

I'm crazy for ornamental grasses. They are one of the best plants for creating texture and movement in the garden. And when you can find one that is fragrant and flavorful, well, what more could you ask for? That's just what you get when you plant the herb lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus.

Lemongrass is a carefree herb to grow. Just give it full sun and good drainage. If you live in a temperate frost-free climate you can expect lemongrass to return year after year. Cooler regions should either treat the plant as an annual herb like basil or grow it in a container that can be moved to a sunny windowsill indoors for winter.

The entire blade of grass is used in cooking. When harvesting or purchasing lemongrass look for fresh, tender stalks, avoid those that are dry or papery.

Lemongrass will store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 1 week. You can also freeze the blades for about 6 months.

Lemongrass is most commonly used in Thai dishes, but the fresh citrus flavor is great in a variety of cuisines.