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One of the most important flavorings in Thai and Vietnamese
cooking, this herb has long, thin, gray-green leaves and a woody scallionlike
base. Citral, an essential oil also found in lemon peel, gives lemon grass
its sour-lemon flavor and fragrance. It is available fresh or dried in Asian
(particularly Thai) markets, produce markets and some supermarkets. Choose
blemish-free green stalks with white roots. Store fresh lemon grass in the
refrigerator, tightly wrapped in a plastic bag, for up to 2 weeks. Use the
white base up to where the leaves begin to branch to flavor tea, sauces,
soups and curry dishes; discard lemon grass before serving
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