Lemon Verbena uses

[viaChgo]

I have some lemon verbena growing in the garden this year because I love the smell of it. I'll be making some lemon verbena simple syrup to sweeten iced tea, make sorbet, and maybe make some lemon verbena sugar too. Does anyone have any other ideas? Are there any savory applications that it might work in?

[Bond Girl]

Lemon Verbena Peach Ice Cream.

[carswell]

A thread last summer offered some ideas. See Lemon Verbena, Help from all the gardeners. I've since made my best-guess version of Jongleux's sauce (dandy with halibut cheeks) and used the herb to perfume egg custards (I bet it'd make an awesome custard-based ice cream, too).

[Elissa]

LV & Zook Soup: steam LV with cubed zucchini then puree; add some yogurt, S&P and chill. Immersion blend to serve with a chiffonade of fresh LV.

[irodguy]

Very good topic right about now my Lemon Verbena is going nuts. Planning on using this for my chicken with lemon sauce.

[rancho_gordo]

I've always heard it's good to use in things like creme brulee (sp), flan and other things that would otherwise curdle with the addition of lemons.

[Mabelline]

Vinegar, as well!

[Squeat Mungry]

Lemon Verbena Peach Ice Cream.

This sounds so incredibly good! Recipe?

[chefdg]

How about putting it into a mayo, or aioli.

[beans]

Other than the gardening part, here's a Lemon Verbena thread with suggestions about using it.

I hope some of it helps.

edit: opps. I didn't get to carswell's post before I zinged this one out...

I used it today in making some white peach jam with lemon verbena. It is wonderful.

Edited July 15, 2004 by beans (log)

[chromedome]

...and after all that, you can name your daughter after it.

(Melissa)

[/smartass]

[Bicycle Lee]

I'm surprised no one said verbena infused oil yet.... that stuff is the bomb-beezy

plus I second the ice cream, and I raise it a sorbet...Verbena sorbet is SO GOOD.

Shit, you can use LV wherever you would use lemon....it is a nice change.

Plus, verbena cream sauce for salmon.

[Mottmott]

My lemon verbena has started to flower. Does that make a difference? I have tons of it. Anyone in the Phila area is welcome to some.

[andiesenji]

If you want to get lemon flavor into milk, without the danger of curdling, use lemon verbend, crush the leaves and infuse the leaves directly in the milk.

[frdagaa]

In a pinch LV can substitute for lemongrass. Or try a tiny bit in a salad.

I'm intrigued by herbs like LV that can provide tastes that are usually provided by other ingredients. I've grown lemon balm (quite a weed) but I think I like lemon verbena better. I'm also interested in lemon myrtle, which apparently is the "lemoniest" of all.

My other substitutes include salad burnett (for cucumber) and lovage (for celery)