Lemongrass is used in many Asian cuisines for its distinct flavor and nutritional benefits.
As its namesake suggests, lemongrass has a unique citrus taste with a lemony aroma.
Lemongrass is a great source of Vitamin A, B, and C, as well as fiber and carbohydrates, making it an excellent immune system booster. In addition, lemongrass contains the compounds geranial, citral, and isoorientin, which have been found to provide many therapeutic benefits such as anti-bacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects.
This traditional Chinese cooking video may inspire you to find new ways of enjoying more lemongrass in your life:
Please see below for our simple, but delectable, grilled lemongrass chicken recipe!
Grilled Lemongrass Chicken
Ingredients:
1 tbsp avocado oil
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thigh
1-2 stalks of lemongrass
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 lime, juiced
1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
1 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp water
Directions:
Remove and discard the top 2-3 inches from the lemongrass and chop the remaining lemongrass as finely as possible.
In a large bowl, combine the chopped lemongrass, minced garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, dark soy sauce, honey, and water.
Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and ensure they are fully immersed in the mixture.
Cover the bowl and set it aside in the fridge for 30 minutes to allow the chicken thighs to marinate. Feel free to marinate for longer or even overnight as well for more flavor.
Heat a cast iron skillet or grill on medium heat. When the skillet is hot, coat it with an oil of your choice. If you are grilling the chicken, brush chicken before placing on grill.
Place the marinated chicken thighs (smooth side down) onto the skillet and cook for 5 minutes.
Flip until cooked through.
Serve with a grain or vegetable of your choice if desired.
Enjoy!
References:
Campos CA, Lima BS, Trindade GGG, Souza EPBSS, Mota DSA, Heimfarth L, Quintans JSS, Quintans-Júnior LJ, Sussuchi EM, Sarmento VHV, Carvalho FMS, Marreto RN, Costa RMR, Nunes RS, Araújo AAS, Shanmugam S, Thangaraj P. Anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of citral with β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in animal models. Life Sci. 2019 Jul 15;229:139-148. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.05.026. Epub 2019 May 11. PMID: 31085246.
Khan, N. T. (2020, May 29). Therapeutic benefits of lemongrass and tea tree. Annals of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 4, 27-29. HSPI. 10.29328/journal.acee.1001022
Olsen, N., & McDermott, A. (2017, November 7). Lemongrass Tea: 10 Benefits. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/lemongrass-tea
Shah, G., Shri, R., Panchal, V., Sharma, N., Singh, B., & Mann, A. S. (2011, January). Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemon grass). J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2011, 2(1), 3-8. PMC. 10.4103/2231-4040.79796