Trimming Lemon Gress
Lemon grass looks like a tough, fibrous scallion or leek. When chopped or pounded, it produces a delightful citrus scent.
To trim, remove the bladelike leaves where they start to branch. Remove the tough base. Peel back and discard the outer woody layers until you reach the more tender, pale inner heart. Use only the bottom three to four inches.
Lemon grass may be very thinly sliced, minced, pounded to a paste, or cut into chunks for soups. To make mincing or pounding easier, crush the bulb with the side of a cleaver first.