Lemongrass Tofu with Daikon

Lemongrass is a wonderfully fragrant herb. If prepped and cooked properly, it adds not only flavor but also a great texture to vegetables, meat, fish or tofu.

I used the lemongrass in this dish as a coating for the tofu (tàu hũ xào xả). Daikon radish (củ cải trắng in Vietnamese) provides contrasts in both texture and flavor. I think the way the daikon is cut dramatically changes the texture of the dish. By cutting it into thick strings, the daikon cooks fast but remain slightly firm.

Note: Glossary of relevant Vietnamese cooking terms.

Tàu hũ = tofu

Xào = stir fry

Xả = lemongrass

Củ = root

Trắng = white

Bo Xao Xa Ot Recipe (Vietnamese Lemongrass Beef)

Bún thịt bò xào xả ớt (chile lemongrass beef noodles) is one of my favorite Vietnamese "casual" everyday meals. I like the way lemongrass is used to spice things up in this Vietnamese classic. Tender, boneless stir-fried beef is cooked with fresh lemongrass, freshly chopped chile peppers and onions. The meat is served in a bowl filled with cold vermicelli rice noodles, roasted peanuts, fresh vegetables (usually cucumber and pickled carrots), fresh Vietnamese herbs and soy bean sprouts. The entire dish is drizzled with mixed herbed fish sauce as seasoning.

The cooking time is very fast, and call me crazy but I love the sound of the sizzling pan. I stir-fried the beef, but on hotter days, you could also thread the meat into skewers and grill them.

Note: Glossary of relevant Vietnamese cooking terms.

Bún = noodles

Thịt bò = beef

Thịt = meat

Xào = stir fry

Xả = lemongrass

Ớt = chile

Vietnamese Lemongrass and Chili Chicken Recipe (Ga Xao Xa Ot)

Lemongrass chicken (cơm gà xào xả ớt) is a very delicious and easy Vietnamese meat dish to prepare. To start with, the chicken pieces are marinated overnight to guarantee optimum tenderness. The next day, I prepare a mix of spices made of finely chopped lemongrass, sugar, chili and salt. The dish is completed by combining and sautéing the ingredients in a fry pan.

I love the fragrance and taste of lemongrass. It has hints of sweet lemon and a touch of ginger. It really adds a distinctive flavor, but this dish can easily be ruined if the lemongrass isn't ground properly into a fine, moist powder. It’s important to take time to thinly slice the stalks of lemongrass before grinding them.

In case you’re interested, growing lemongrass is very easy. All you need to do is trim it often. My husband Lulu planted 4 "bushes" of lemongrass a few years ago. I gathered 4 stalks from the garden and made both lemongrass tofu (tàu hủ xả ớt) and lemongrass chicken for dinner tonight. The plants are quite prolific, and if you use a lot of lemongrass in your cooking, it’s worth planting some in your garden.

Note: Glossary of relevant Vietnamese cooking terms.

Thịt gà = chicken

Thịt = meat

Cơm = rice

Xào = stir fry

Ớt = chile

Xả = lemongrass

Tàu hủ or Đậu hủ = tofu

Lemongrass Tofu

Lemongrass is very common in Vietnamese cuisine. It is considered as a mild diuretic, tonic and stimulant. It's very fibrous so lemongrass needs to be finely chopped.

This particular recipe combines lemongrass with fried tofu.

Lemongrass is quite expensive in stores and it sold by bulk of 5 stalks. It's a perennial. I asked my husband about it and he started to grow 4 "bushes" last year and we keep getting some, which is very convenient.