If you are looking for an exciting new ingredient to add to your dishes or if you want to replicate some of your favorite Thai recipes, kaffir lime leaves may be perfect for you. The double leaf shape gives the impression that it is two leaves joined together. You can buy fresh kaffir lime leaves in Asian grocery stores. If you have trouble finding them, you can replace them with dry ones which are generally easier to find.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Prepare and Store Fresh Combava Leaves
Step 1. Remove the midribs from fresh leaves before adding them to your dishes
Fold them in half, along the fibrous midrib that runs from one end of the leaf to the other. Pinch the tip of the rib between your thumb and forefinger, then pull it down to separate it from the leaf. After removing it, put the remaining parts in the dish you want to flavor to give it an intense citrus taste.
- Breaking the leaves helps them release their scents and flavors. You can also crumple them between your fingers for an even stronger taste.
- Fresh kaffir lime leaves can be used in a wide range of recipes: from soups to curries to noodles.
Step 2. Remove the leaves from the dish before serving
The kaffir lime leaves are quite hard and difficult to chew. If you added them whole while cooking, remember to remove them from the pot before transferring the food to plates.
Alternatively, you can discard them when you find them on the plate
Step 3. Cut the leaves into thin strips to make them an integral part of the recipe
If you don't want to remove them from the dish, you can remove the midrib from the leaves by hand or with the knife, then stack them and roll them tightly to form a cylinder, finally place the rolled leaves on the cutting board, take a small sharp knife and cut them as finely as possible.
This option is great for incorporating kaffir lime leaves into a salad or dish of noodles, rice and also to use them as a garnish
Step 4. Store fresh kaffir lime leaves in the refrigerator and use within two weeks
Like all fresh aromatic herbs, kaffir lime leaves must also be kept in the refrigerator to preserve their taste and color. Place them in a bag or food container, then refrigerate them and use them within 14 days or before they lose their texture and characteristic bright green color.
If you think you won't be able to use them in time, you can keep them in the freezer for up to a year. Place them in a bag suitable for freezing food and let out as much air as possible before sealing it, taking care not to damage the leaves. Write the date on the bag and put it in the freezer. When you're ready to use the leaves, just let them thaw at room temperature for 20-30 minutes
Method 2 of 4: Use Dried or Powdered Combava Leaves
Step 1. Let the leaves simmer inside the dish to release their flavor
If you purchased dried kaffir leaves, you can use them in the same way as fresh ones. Fold them in half, then pinch the midrib between your index finger and thumb to detach it from the leaf. Add the leaves to the recipe while cooking, then remove them before serving.
- You can use the same amount of fresh or dried leaves. For example, if the recipe tells you to add a fresh kaffir lime leaf, you can use a dry one.
- Before buying dried kaffir lime leaves, check that they are still green. If they have a grayish color, it means they are too old. If they are only slightly faded they can be fine.
Step 2. Remove the leaves from the dish before serving or leave them on the plate
Dried kaffir lime leaves have a very tough texture and are difficult to chew. If you don't want to remove them from the pot, set them aside on your plate while you're eating.
If you want to remove the leaves from the pot before transferring the food to the dishes, you can use a small skimmer
Step 3. Add a sprinkling of powdered kaffir leaves to your dishes for a citrusy, yet light, note
In the most well-stocked Asian groceries, you should be able to find powdered kaffir lime leaves. In that case, you can take a pinch and add them to your recipes while cooking. The crumbled leaves will soften, so you don't have to worry about removing them from the dish before serving.
This option is great, for example, to add a citrus note to sautéed dishes
Method 3 of 4: Include Combava Leaves in Specific Dishes
Step 1. Combine kaffir lime leaves with other flavors of Thai cuisine
In the culinary world there is a saying: "What grows together goes together". The explanation is that, generally, the ingredients of the same cuisine or region enhance each other. Whether you are creating a dish from scratch or just looking for a recipe in which you can incorporate the kaffir lime leaves, it makes no difference: try adding them to all those dishes that include among the ingredients for example lemongrass, chilli, ginger, shallot, galangal or fresh cilantro.
The most authentic Thai dishes you can put kaffir lime leaves in include for example tom yam or tom kha gai soup, curry panang, rice noodle salad and tod mun pla, Thai fish cake
Did you know that?
Although they have a slightly different flavor, you can use kaffir lime leaves as a substitute for lemongrass and vice versa.
Step 2. Combine the kaffir lime leaves with the fish and seafood
Citrus fruits go perfectly with fish and seafood, so kaffir lime leaves also go well with these ingredients. For example, you can add a kaffir lime leaf as you sauté the shrimp in a pan or you can julienne a few leaves and spread them over the fish before grilling.
- You can also add the kaffir lime leaves when making tilapia in foil.
- The citrusy taste of kaffir lime leaves also goes well with that of steamed clams or fish. Add a couple to the water before bringing it to a boil.
Step 3. Add the kaffir lime leaves to a curry to give it a citrus aftertaste
Thai-style curries often include kaffir lime leaves as an ingredient, so if you're looking for that flavor that makes curry from your favorite Thai restaurant irresistible, you may finally have found it. Add a kaffir lime leaf and let it simmer over low heat with the rest of the ingredients, then remove it before serving or set it aside on the plate while you eat.
The flavor of the combava goes well in particular with that of the coconut for a curry with delicate and refreshing aromas
Step 4. Use kaffir lime leaves to enhance the flavor of rice dishes
When you cook the rice, add a fresh or dried kaffir lime leaf to the water: by boiling, it will release its citrus and herbaceous notes, giving greater complexity to the taste of the dish.
You can cook white rice with kaffir lime and combine it with fish or seafood; try it for example with sinigang na hipon, a soup with prawns, or with seafood stew
Step 5. Add the kaffir lime leaves to a dessert
The citrusy taste of the kaffir lime leaves goes well with sweet recipes as well as with savory ones. You can infuse them in milk, butter, cream or sugar syrup to enrich the taste of your desserts. For a more intense flavor, you can use the dried leaves in powder or cut the fresh leaves into very thin slices and include them in the recipe.
- For example, you can cut the kaffir lime leaves into julienne strips and use them to decorate an ice cream cup or place them in a cheesecake to give the cake a fresh, citrusy note.
- The sugar syrup flavored with kaffir lime leaves can also be used in cocktails or more simply to sweeten tea or lemonade.
Method 4 of 4: Alternative Uses of Combava Leaves
Step 1. Add some kaffir lime leaves to the potpourri to give it a citrus note
If you are a lover of potpourri and like to make it at home, you can consider adding kaffir leaves to your next creation. All you have to do is break them between your fingers to make them release their scented oils.
For example, you could make your next potpourri using dried orange peels, vanilla beans, kaffir lime leaves and sandalwood shavings for a rich, intense fragrance
Step 2. Add the kaffir lime leaves to the bath water to give it a pleasant scent
A citrus scented bath can be very relaxing, plus the intense fragrance of the combava can have an invigorating effect on mood. Try adding 2-3 kaffir leaves to the hot water before soaking in the tub and relaxing while enjoying their scent.
Crumple the leaves in your hands before adding them to the water to release more scented oils
Step 3. Rub the leaves on the skin to deodorize it naturally
If you're looking for an all-natural way to scent your body, crush or crumple a lime leaf, then rub it where you can feel your pulse, such as on the wrists or the base of the neck. The oils will transfer to the skin, giving it a delicate citrus fragrance.
- The scent of kaffir lime leaves can also be effective as a mosquito repellent.
- Kaffir lime leaves are not considered skin irritants, but in case of redness or itching, rinse the area immediately with cold water and stop using them in this way.
Step 4. Create a garland to hang around the house to diffuse the scent of the combava
It's a nice way to welcome your guests. Depending on the style of the wreath, you may be able to introduce the leaves into the composition without having to tie them. Alternatively, you can loop a thread around the thinnest part of the leaves, in the middle, and then secure it to the wreath.
Warning:
because of the diseases that can affect citrus fruits, it is against the law to take kaffir lime leaves (or things that contain them) in some countries of the world or outside of them; for example, traveling with these leaves is illegal in Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas and the US Virgin Islands.
Advice
- The kaffir lime tree is quite small, so it is possible to grow it in pots, especially where the climate is temperate.
- The fruits of the kaffir lime tree have a very lumpy skin that makes them look like a brain. The rind is widely used in cooking, while the pulp is rarely used because it contains very little juice.
