Lemongrass

Shaped like sturdy, fibrous green onions, lemongrass grows in long, slender stalks endowed with a lemony flavor and scent. But whereas lemon is sharp-edged and brassy, lemongrass has a cool, soft, delicate citrus taste. Its grassy,pale-to-medium green tops grow out of a whitish, bulbous base with an interior purple tinge. A basic ingredient in Thai curry pastes, fresh lemongrass is increasingly available in supermarkets and farmer's markets in the west, as well as in Asian markets. Even the freshest stalk is hard and fibrous by nature, so Asian cooks either grind it up into a paste or leave it in large chunks which infuse a soup but are not eaten. They sometimes slice it paper thin and mix it into a hearty salad.