Lemongrass Vodka Martini Recipe

The other night my husband and I went out to dinner with two other couples. One of the guys is married to a girl from Indonesia. We heard extensively about their travels to this exotic part of the world with awe and interest. And yes, this is where lemongrass vodka martini recipe comes into play.

The story has to do with a couple of American guys enjoying this libation at a popular hotel bar. The martini was infused with a local ingredient: lemongrass.

The food blogger in me was instantly delighted. “I need to make one of those” I told my husband. So here I am trying to concoct a lemongrass vodka martini recipe. I’ll be totally honest here, I had to consult with my husband. When it comes to drinks he is a much better bartender than I am. We all have our strengths, right?

One of the points of discussion was how to incorporate the lemongrass into the martini. After much debate he thought that it would be cool to make a lemongrass infused simple syrup. Fortunately there is an Asian market near our house that sells it. Having the simple syrup would allow us to make this lovely lemongrass cocktail anytime we pleased.

By the way, lemongrass is a key ingredient in Thai, Vietnamese, and Cambodian cuisine. I fell in love with it last year when my family and I visited Southeast Asia. And yes, I promise to have more recipes that use this ingredient.

Lemongrass is an herb that looks a little bit like scallions, except that the stalks are a yellow green color. Its flavor and aroma are lemony. It is extremely versatile, and can be used in soups, stews, and stir fries alike. You need this herb in your arsenal. By the way if you have difficulty finding it fresh,  you can buy it in paste form in the produce section of your grocery store. It s also sold pickled in the Asian section of your grocery store.

The collage above shows you how to properly trim lemongrass. First, you need to cut the end with a sharp knife. This is the part directly above the ring that sits above the root mass. Next trim the top as well. Remove a couple of layers from the stalk. Rinse. Finally trim from the bottom.

After you have trimmed the lemongrass there are several things you can do with it. How you prepare it from here on will depend on the dish that you are making.  Here are some common preparation techniques for lemongrass.

• • You can leave the stalk whole and beat it gently with a kitchen mallet  to release the oils in the stalks and to add to soups, or in this case infuse a simple syrup with lemongrass flavor as shown above and below.  You want to remove the stalks from the soup when you are ready to serve. In the case of the simple syrup you can remove and strain it after it soaks for a few days.
  • If you are making a stir fry dish with lemongrass you can thinly slice the lemongrass stalk into small rings along the width and toss them in the stir fry dish.
  • If you are going to make a curry paste with lemongrass you can finely mince it and add to your curry paste mixture.

Here I have gently crushed the lemongrass along the length with my handy kitchen mallet and submerged it into the simple syrup.

Just to let you know a little bit about lemongrass: It is a perennial herb that is widely cultivated in various parts of India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. It’s been used for centuries in these countries to make soups, curries, and also for medicinal purposes.  Lemongrass grows in clumps,  up to 6′ wide and 3′ high.

Now I really need to let my dinner companions know that the drink from their travels is now on my blog. Maybe they’ll make it, and remember their tropical paradise as they savor their first sip. I hope you will make this lemongrass vodka martini recipe a keeper.

If you are interested in other fun cocktail recipes, check these out!

Guava Lime Cocktail: A refreshing beverage that is perfect for a summer day, or a Sunday afternoon. The combination of guava juice and lime are perfect

Make a blue margarita to get you thinking about sandy beaches and clear blue waters. Why wait until you go on vacation?

The bright red color of a Prosecco pomegranate mimosa will cheer you up. Bubbly, tart, and delicious.

This sparkling Prosecco beverage  with mango has a secret ingredient. Wait ’til you see what it is.

4 from 1 vote

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Lemongrass vodka martini recipe

Anew twist on an old favorite. Lemongrass vodka martini makes a dynamite cocktail The lovely lemony flavor of lemongrass shines through. The result is a lovey libation that is perfect for any occasion.

Course Beverage

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 1 minute

Total Time 6 minutes

Servings: Change to adjust-> 2 servings

Calories 95 kcal

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka
• 3 tsp simple syrup infused with lemongrass
• 1 tsp dry vermouth

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker full of ice.

2. Shake for 30 seconds.

3. Pour into martini glasses.

Nutrition Facts

Lemongrass vodka martini recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 95

% Daily Value*

Sodium 6mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%

Sugars 7g

Iron 2.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here is the recipe for lemongrass infused simple syrup below.

4 from 1 vote

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Lemongrass Infused Simple Syrup

Here is an easy way to make lemongrass simple syrup and store it in your refrigerator for cocktails. 

Course Drink

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 12 minutes

Servings: Change to adjust-> 24 servings

Calories 35 kcal

Author Analida

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 5 stalks lemongrass

Instructions

1. Add sugar and water to saucepan and heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Pour the liquid in a glass jar for storage.

2. Trim the ends off of 5 stalks of lemongrass and discard.  Use the middle section of lemongrass and gently break up with a kitchen mallet.

3. Place the mashed stalks of lemongrass in the warm simple syrup and leave to infuse for 3-4 days. Refrigerate after the liquid has cooled.

4. Remove the lemongrass stalks from the liquid and pour through a strainer.  This mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for several months.

Nutrition Facts

Lemongrass Infused Simple Syrup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 35

% Daily Value*

Potassium 22mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%

Sugars 8g

Vitamin C 0.1%

Calcium 0.2%

Iron 1.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.