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Nam takrai (lemongrass drink)
น้ำตะไคร้ · lemongrass and pandan simmered into a pale gold cooler
Thai spa receptions and roadside rice shops both pour this from big glass jars, and in Chiang Mai and Bangkok homes a pot is often simmering on hot afternoons. Bruised lemongrass gives a clean, lemony, slightly grassy taste and pandan a soft vanilla note; lightly sweetened, it is refreshing over ice and soothing warm on a rainy-season evening. Chef's tip: the usual mistake is chopping the lemongrass fine and boiling it hard, which makes it bitter; bash the stalks and simmer gently.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 6 stalks lemongrasstrimmed, bruised with a rolling pin and cut into 5 cm lengths
- 3 pandan leavesknotted
- 6 ¼ cups water
- 2 ⅞ oz sugarto taste
- 14 oz ice cubes
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Method
0/3 doneStep 1: Put 6 stalks lemongrass, 3 pandan leaves and 6 ¼ cups water in a pan and bring to the boil over a high heat.
5 minStep 2: Lower the heat and simmer gently until the water turns pale gold and smells strongly of lemongrass, about 10 minutes.
10 minStep 3: Stir in 2 ⅞ oz sugar until dissolved, then strain and cool. Pour over 14 oz ice cubes, or drink it warm.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 55 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nam takrai (lemongrass drink) take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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