4 Substitutes for Lemongrass

Also known as citronella or fevergrass, lemon grass is used extensively in Asian cuisine as a spice, herb and seasoning. The grayish-green stalks of this fragrant plant create a citrus-like flavor in exotic dishes. If you need lemongrass for a recipe, but do not have access to it, you may be able to use any of several substitutes to impart a similar culinary effect.

The following substitutes for lemongrass can be used in almost any recipe.

Lemon Zest

Although lemongrass is completely unrelated to the similar-tasting citrus fruit, lemon zest can be used in almost any recipe to give food the tart, exotic flavor of lemongrass. Simply shave the zest-- the uppermost layer of the rind-- from one lemon to replace each two stalks of lemongrass in your recipe.

Lemon Leaf

The leaves of a lemon tree are an excellent substitute for lemongrass. Their earthy, green flavor and citrusy twang make it an ideal alternative for most recipes. Use the equivalent weight of lemon leaf that you would use in lemongrass.

Lemon Balm

A member of the mint family, lemon balm is entirely unrelated to lemongrass or lemon fruit, but it has a slightly tart, herbacious flavor similar to lemongrass itself. Lemon balm possesses many medicinal properties and may help to combat herpes-family viruses such as shingles and cold sores. Lemon balm is also known as melissa or lemon mint.

Lemon Verbena

A decidious perrenial shrub, lemon verbebna exudes a powerful lemony scent and has a rustic flavor slightly similar to lemongrass. The leaves of this plant can be used as substitutes for lemonbalm in almost any recipe, and the shrub itself can be culviated for ornamental and aromatic purposes.