Lemongrass

Lemongrass (serai) is a fragrant, lemony stalk that is either bruised and used whole in soups or curries, or sliced and ground as part of a basic spice mix. It is usually sold in bunches of 3 to 4 stems in supermarkets. The tough outer layers should be peeled away and only the inner part of the thick lower third of the stem is used. Always slice the stem before grinding to get a smooth paste.