I have a kaffir lime tree growing in my garden, which I use the leaves from (as well as fruit) They are definitely superior flavour-wise, but normal lime leaves are perfectly fine to use. To freeze the leaves, spread them out on a plate, freeze for a few hours, then collect, bag and freeze. Generally, six makrut lime leaves replace ten curry leaves for a recipe. If you are lucky, you might find some real fresh Kaffir leaves. You can substitute 10 curry leaves with 6 “Makrut Lime” leaves (pronounced “Ma-groot”, also called “Kaffir Lime” leaves). You can also find this ingredient as part of sweet recipes, like cake, pie, yogurt, and more. Combine remaining 1 1/2 cups stock, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, remaining 1 teaspoon curry powder, and coconut milk in a bowl; stir with a whisk. Kaffir lime trees . To use Kaffir lime leaves, you can add whole leaves, either dried or fresh, to Asian soups, curries, and rice dishes while they're simmering to impart a distinct flavor. Curry leaves can also give the citrus notes that you would get from Kaffir lime leaves. They are typically available in many Asian grocery stores. It does not taste the same at all. Some common recipes with kaffir lime leaves include coconut curry, fried rice, soups, and vinaigrette. For example the leaves of kaffir lime trees are the distinctive flavour in Thai Green Curry, and fresh leaves from your own tree knock the socks off dried leaves. Kaffir is an Arabic word so you have to be wary as you say it while on a Thai market since you might be misunderstood. Kaffir Lime Leaves Substitute. The two are different from many points of view, yet they have one thing in common – the citrus flavor. Shred the dried leaves before adding them to fish cakes and be sure to use fresh, tender leaves for salads. Dried Kaffir Lime leaves are sold online for nearly $30 an ounce! The leaves have a strong aroma and can be purchased fresh, frozen, and dried. Why Replace Kaffir Lime Leaves, Anyway. Kaffir lime is a member of the citrus family which is mostly found in Southeast Asia and its neighbors. You use them like bay leaves, in that you have to take them … Cooks mostly squeeze citrus to the meal for a great taste before serving. Potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, eggplant, onions, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes are great vegetable options to pair with curry leaves. No matter what kind of Asian or Mediterranean dish you’re cooking, curry leaves make a perfect Kaffir lime leaves substitute. If you have traveled around Southeast Asian countries before, surely you were able to taste the rich flavors of Asian cuisines and indulge in new recipes. There are many alternatives you can use like bay leaves, lime zest lemon, curry spice, among others. If you are making, for example, a Thai curry, the flavor will not be right with kaffir lime leaves or some kaffir lime zest. SPICEography notes that a single bay leaf can replace a half-cup of curry leaves, but use one-third of the amount called for when replacing with lemon balm, or use six kaffir lime leaves (another possibility, best for stir-fries and soups) for every 10 curry leaves. You can do it with a knife or with your hands. For example, if your recipe calls for 4 thinly sliced Kaffir lime leaves, you can use 6 citrus leaves to compensate. You can use a combo of white and sweet potatoes, if desired. I can't think of a good substitute -- kaffir lime is too acidic. Both dried and frozen Kaffir leaves can be found in any Asian markets, specifically the Thai-specialty-oriented ones. You can add more if you find it necessary. Curry leaves have a very unique flavor. Kaffir Lime Leaves are a key ingredient in Tom Kha Gai, a popular Thai Coconut Chicken Soup. If you leave out the leaves, you may still end up with something close to the flavors of a North Indian dal, which isn't half bad either. Stir coconut milk mixture into chicken mixture in cooker. An interesting fact here is that Kaffir lime leaves are double the cost of your standard bay leaves. Kaffir Lime Tree. But you can’t eat them so you would have to remove curry leaves before serving the dish. The leaves are shiny on one side and porous on the other. Kaffir lime leaves for a tangy Thai Coconut Curry spicy zing! This mild adaptation of an Indian curry has some Vietnamese twists: sweet potatoes and kaffir lime leaves. Both its fruit and leaves are sold dried or frozen in specialty Asian markets if you are located in the west. Depends on how important the correct flavor is to to you. The leaves are available in Southeast Asian markets such as Duangrat's Market, 5888 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church (703-578-0622). The Kaffir lime tree is grown and harvested primarily for its dark green leaves to create spices or oils. The makrut limes themselves are more bitter and with thicker skins than usual limes. Kaffir lime leaves are used widely in Thai and South-East Asian cooking, imparting a tangy, spicy, lime-like zestiness to soups and curries. There isn’t really any good substitute for Kaffir Lime Leaves but in a pinch, you can use regular lime zest. Curry leaves. Unfortunately, kaffir lime leaves can be quite difficult to find if you are in the US so you will probably need a substitute if you want to make an authentic-tasting Thai dish. The process of doing this is pretty simple. Kaffir lime leaves give the curry a wonderful fragrance and asam gelugor pieces provide the tanginess. Kaffir Lime Leaves. Storage Hints. Curry leaves shouldn’t be eaten though. They can enrich the aroma of your dish, as well as the taste. Fry 8 to 10 curry leaves in hot oil, then add your vegetables of choice to the pan and cook them until they’re done. Similar to Curry Leaves, it’s not easy to find Lime Leaves at all, and once you find it, use it as a curry leaf substitute for your cooking recipes. 1 stalk of lemongrass can be substituted with two teaspoons of fresh lemon juice and one kaffir lime leaf. Makrut also known as kaffir lime leaves, make a great substitute for curry because of having the same strong flavour. Asam gelugor are slices of dried fruit of the asam gelugor tree indigenous to Malaysia. Pair your vegetable sides with curry leaves to add a lemon essence. In addition, whilst packets of imported kaffir lime leaves are now often available in larger supermarkets and specialist stores, you don’t ever see the fruits. If a recipe calls for makrut lime leaves, and you cannot find them or choose not to use them, do not substitute with another ingredient; there is no replacement for the unique flavor the makrut lime leaves impart to a dish. Makrut lime leaves, not to be confused with the leaves of a regular lime tree, are widely used in Thai cuisine, to flavor curries, soups and stir-frys. If your recipe calls for dried curry leaves you can substitute dried bay leaves. The leaves are finely shredded to impart maximum flavor into the soup. I have to disagree with the lime zest suggestion. Lime zest, bay leaves, makrut lime leaves, lemon balm, basil leaves, and daun salam leaves are some of the most excellent substitutes you can get to curry leaves. Kaffir lime, a citrus fruit frequently used in Asian cuisine, is not the same as a traditional lime. Though kaffir lime leaves might be a bit difficult to find, particularly if you are in the US, you probably need an alternative once planning to … 1/3 cup dried kaffir lime leaves (assorted sizes) = 25 assorted size dried kaffir lime leaves = 2 g 12 dried leaves = 1 g = 2 teaspoons of powder, after being ground to a powder [1] Source: Patricia Wells. It is not true that there is no substitute for kaffir lime leaves in Thai cooking. Click the link for sources on where to buy. OR - Use fresh bay leaves if they are available in your area. The leaves can be crushed, simmer, slice then removed from the meal. You have to take into account that you cannot find an alternative that perfectly replaces curry leaves or cardamom substitute anyway, it is right to choose a sub based on the purpose and what flavor you want to get. When you serve a dish where whole Kaffir lime leaves have been used (like in soups), politely inform your guests that the leaves have been used merely for flavoring purposes (just like bay leaves usually are). Finally, keep in mind that each replacement requires different quantities. They are nutty, slightly funky and aromatic. Before you use the Kaffir lime leaves on your dish, make sure that you remove its rib. Some Thai recipes stick to the old name; some use Makrut, and most often, K-leaves as well. Kaffir Lime (makrut lime) is a small lime (Citrus hystrix) whose aromatic leaves are used fresh and dried in Asian cooking. Although curry leaves and lime leaves are different in many aspects, they give the similar citrus notes that might be enough to enrich the taste and smell of your dish. Fresh Kaffir Lime Leaves Stores. Here are the most common reasons why you would need a Kaffir lime leaves replacement: Make no mistake, the flavor of kaffir lime leaves is complex and difficult to replicate; however, you can … Features of the Kaffir lime tree: The lime is more commonly known and used for its leaves consisting of a large petiole and a equally sized leaf blade. If you’re cooking Indian curry but have nothing on hands to replace Kaffir lime leaves, then using curry leaves can be a choice. If a curry dish calls for lemongrass but you don’t have any, try using kaffir and lemon juice to elevate the flavor the way lemongrass can. Just use the newest tender leaves… The limes are small and have a dark green, bumpy rind. The fruit itself is bitter, acidic and considered inedible, although it is not dangerous in any way. The fruit is grown in Southeast Asia and sometimes in Hawaii. A regular “everyday” Persian lime, like the kind you find at grocery stores, will do just fine. The fresh leaves are most typically used in food and beverages but you find both the leaves and the rind in dried form which can be substituted for fresh. Kaffir lime leaves have a strong citrus flavor, and they can be difficult to find outside of specialty Asian markets. When you go back to your original country, you might miss the authentic dishes that you were able to try, and one of the most common flavor that you … The Best Kaffir Lime Leaves Substitutes Out There Read More It’s a bit difficult to acquire especially if your area doesn’t have a lot of Asian grocers. Many Thai recipes, such as fried rice, feature lime leaves as a key ingredient. Unlike regular limes, kaffir limes and their leaves are used mainly in cooking and should not be eaten raw (via The Spruce Eats). Kaffir lime leaves have a strong citrusy flavor with a hint of pungency. You can simply substitute lime zest to get a wonderful fresh lime scent and citrusy flavor that adds zing and freshness to your dish. It will add the same flavor to the dishes with a strong and unique aroma that gets complemented by the incredible citrus notes. You can substitute with lime juice if you cannot find asam gelugor. The leaves and peels are fragrant and used in flavoring dishes. Makrut Lime Leaves Recipes . In case you have been wondering what some great substitutes for curry leaves are, we have got you covered. Here is a video that shows how you prepare Kaffir lime leaves properly. Kaffir lime leaves make a suitable substitute. Add kaffir lime leaves. 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