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3 min readLemongrass: Stalk, Slice, Bruise
Flavor role, buying tips, storage, and substitutions for Balinese cooking
Bumbu Bali Editorial
Culinary education team · Bali, Indonesia
Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Flavor role in Balinese cooking
Lemongrass perfumes pastes, grills, and sambals. Use the tender white lower stalk for eating; use upper stalk for bruising in pots.
How to buy and store
- Choose firm heavy stalks
- Remove dry outer layers
- Freeze chopped white parts
Smart substitutions
- Lemongrass paste as backup
- Lemon zest is a weak substitute
Where it shows up
- Sambal matah
- Sate lilit
- Broths
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