The best lemongrass substitute depends on what you are making. For tea, dried lemongrass, lemon balm, or lemon verbena come closest. For soups, curries, and marinades, lemon zest, lime zest, lemongrass paste, or kaffir lime leaves work well. This guide lists the swaps with ratios, plus what each one does and does not replace.
What Lemongrass Brings to a Recipe
Lemongrass tastes lemony without being sour, with a faint floral and earthy note. No single swap copies all of that. Most substitutes give you the citrus but not the earthiness, so taste as you go and add a little at a time. If you have the real thing, our guide to how to use lemongrass shows how to prep it.
Best Lemongrass Substitutes and Ratios
The ratios below come from Insanely Good Recipes, which lists them per stalk or per tablespoon of lemongrass. Treat them as starting points rather than fixed rules.
| Substitute | Ratio | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dried lemongrass | 1 tablespoon for 1 fresh stalk | Tea and cooking |
| Lemongrass paste | 1 tablespoon for 1 fresh stalk | Soups, curries, marinades |
| Lemon zest | 1:1 | Fresh citrus note |
| Lime zest | Half the amount | Soups and curries |
| Lemon balm | 4 leaves for 1 stalk | Tea, mild dishes |
| Lemon verbena | 2 leaves for 1 stalk | Tea |
| Kaffir lime leaves | Half the amount | Soups, stews, curries |
| Lemon juice | Half the amount | Curries (add at the end) |
Best Substitutes for Lemongrass Tea
Dried lemongrass is the closest match and is especially suited to tea. Because its flavor is strong, start small and add more as needed. Lemon balm is milder and more understated, and lemon verbena is more potent but lacks the earthy notes, so use fewer leaves. To see the full method, follow our lemongrass tea recipe, or try the lemongrass ginger tea and add a little extra ginger to make up for the missing earthy notes.
Best Substitutes for Soups, Curries, and Marinades
- Lemongrass paste: widely sold in Asian grocery stores and powerful, so you only need a fraction of the fresh amount.
- Kaffir lime leaves: work well in soups, stews, and curries.
- Lemon or lime zest: use only the colored peel, since the white pith is bitter. Lime zest is more pungent and can overpower a dish.
- Lemon juice: adds fresh citrus to a curry but lacks warm, earthy notes, so add it near the end.
If You Have Some but Not Enough
Stalks you froze can fill the gap. Learn how in our guide to storing and freezing lemongrass.
Lemongrass Substitute FAQ
What is the best substitute for lemongrass in tea?
Dried lemongrass is the closest match. Insanely Good Recipes suggests 1 tablespoon of dried lemongrass for 1 fresh stalk. Lemon balm and lemon verbena also work.
Can I use lemon zest instead of lemongrass?
Yes. Insanely Good Recipes suggests a 1:1 ratio, using only the yellow peel because the white pith is bitter. It adds citrus but not the earthy notes.
How much lemongrass paste equals one stalk?
Insanely Good Recipes suggests about 1 tablespoon of paste for each fresh stalk. Taste as you go, since paste is strong.
Can I use lemon juice instead of lemongrass?
You can, starting with half as much lemon juice as lemongrass and tasting as you go. It adds citrus but not earthy notes, so it works best in curries.
Source
For other herbal options, see our guide to types of herbal tea.