Lemongrass, with its distinct lemon flavor and hint of ginger, has long been a staple in Asian cuisines. Not just a culinary herb, it boasts a range of health benefits too. If you’re curious about how to use it in your kitchen or how to grow it in your garden, you’ve come to the right place!
Benefits of Lemongrass
- Digestive Health: Lemongrass aids in digestion and helps in treating digestive health disorders like indigestion, constipation, and heartburn.
- Natural Diuretic: It promotes urination, which helps reduce water retention.
- Detoxification: Lemongrass is known for its detoxifying properties. It assists in eliminating toxins, uric acid, and bad cholesterol from the body.
- Skin Health: Its antiseptic and astringent properties make lemongrass a perfect ingredient for getting clear, glowing skin.
- Stress Relief: The calming effects of lemongrass can help reduce anxiety and tension.
Lemongrass in the Kitchen
Cooking with Lemongrass: Its citrusy flavor can elevate a range of dishes. Lemongrass stalks can be used in curries, soups, and teas.
Kitchen Tips:
- When using lemongrass, remove the tough outer leaves and use only the soft inner part.
- Lemongrass can be quite fibrous. To extract its flavor, you can crush or bruise the stalks before cooking.
- Store fresh lemongrass stalks in the refrigerator wrapped in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag.
Growing Lemongrass
- Choosing the Right Spot: Lemongrass prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. It needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Soil Requirements: Plant in well-draining soil. Lemongrass prefers a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
- Watering: Water thoroughly. Lemongrass likes moist soil but avoid waterlogging as it can cause root rot.
- Propagation: You can grow lemongrass from seeds, but the easiest way is to get stalks from an existing plant and plant them in pots or directly into the ground.
- Harvesting: Once your lemongrass plant reaches 12 inches in height, you can start harvesting. Cut the stalks at the ground level, and always leave some stalks so that the plant can continue growing.
To Conclude
Lemongrass isn’t just a flavor enhancer in the kitchen; its myriad health benefits make it a must-have herb in your garden. With proper care and attention, you can enjoy a steady supply of this fragrant herb.
