Lengkuas

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Asian Ingredients, galangal, Herbs & Spices, indisch koken, indonesia food, indonesian cooking, indonesian recipe, Ingredients Index, laos, lengkuas

Indonesian: Lengkuas , Laos
Common Name: Galangal
Botanical Name: Languas galanga syn. Alpinia galanga

Malaysian: Lengkuas
The Galangal plant (Galanga, Blue Ginger) is a rhizome with culinary and medicinal uses. In its raw form, galangal has a citrus, earthy aroma, with hints of pine and soap in the flavor. It is available as a whole root, or cut or powdered. The whole fresh root is very hard, and requires both a sharp knife and care to slice. A mixture of galangal and lime juice is used as a tonic in parts of Southeast Asia. It is said to have the effect of an aphrodisiac, and act as a stimulant. In the Indonesian language, greater galangal is called lengkuas or laos and lesser galangal is called kencur.