What are Kaffir Lime Leaves and How to Use Them? (aka Makrut Lime Leaves)

[@rosalindpendleton7073]

Thank you, Lin. You are a mine of information. I never knew to tear the leaves, nor to slice them up like that!

[@AzlinBloor]

My pleasure, Rosalind.

[@louieadam251]

Thank you. I ordered grafted kiffer lime tree and plant on my yard so i can have those leaves for my cooking.

[@AzlinBloor]

Awesome!

[@martindamiani3758]

Thanks from Argentina!

[@AzlinBloor]

My pleasure.

[@DanielHYNg]

Very interesting video on Kaffir Lime. Thanks for the tip Azlin.

[@AzlinBloor]

My pleasure.

[@TheMadScientistsKitchen-tmsk]

Thanks for this info. I have not seen them in my place but will try them when we travel.

[@AzlinBloor]

My pleasure.

[@vanderhouston4429]

Always learning with you! Craving your sayur lemak now, pencilled it for the weekend!

[@AzlinBloor]

Haha, thank you, Vander!

[@lucaconte3622]

Thank you Lin, very helpful!

[@AzlinBloor]

You're so welcome!

[@tripko2329]

Wow amazing we have 1 tree in my neighbor farm i am amazed when i see the tree.... that why i am searching in KZbin....

[@AzlinBloor]

That's gret, you should use the leaves for cooking!

[@nisanisa756]

Nice Lin! We call them jeruk purut. We also slice them thinly to add to rempeyek.

[@AzlinBloor]

Thank you, Nisa! As soon as you mentioned it, I remembered the word jeruk! Thank you for helping me brish up on my Indonesian!

[@kaanefegodek5222]

Merhaba Güzel bilgileriniz için çook teşekkür ederim. Emeğine sağlık 🙋‍♂️

[@AzlinBloor]

My pleasure, thanks for watching and dropping me a comment.

[@starlessmystery6429]

I used to put a couple of torn up leaves in my beer until one night I got a little buzzed, accidentally swallowed part of a leaf and couldn’t get it out of my throat. Really thought I was going to die. They are host to the Tiger swallowtail butterfly here and get some pretty interesting caterpillars on them that turn into those beautiful butterflies.

[@AzlinBloor]

Goodness, that was a nasty experience. I don't drink beer, but I'll have to try it next time I have guests! Swallowtails are really pretty, in Norfolk, right?

[@starlessmystery6429]

@@AzlinBloor I’m in Texas. The kaffir leaves are fantastic in beer but please put them in a tea ball or something. I was thinking the leaves would be great to use on top of a frozen margarita pie. I once dried some and completely ground them up like a powder. That worked really well also.

[@AzlinBloor]

@@starlessmystery6429 Those are all great suggestions. I use them in so many different ways too, having grown up with them, they're kind of embedded in my DNA! They're great for infusing vodka too (I think I mention that in the video).

[@ajcarterfilms]

Very informative thank you!

[@AzlinBloor]

My pleasure.

[@godbless965]

great 👍🏽 informative content. any easy way just to extract the oil ?

[@AzlinBloor]

Thanks Leon. The only way to extract the oil of citrus fruit (or leaves) at home is by infusing it in another oil. Your best option would be a flavourless oil as you'd then get just the Kaffir lime aroma. Sunflower oil, canola oil, any of those would work. I use 5 limes to 1 cup (250 ml) of oil for the strongest flavour. You could even use more. Zest the limes and add to your oil. Throw in 6 torn leaves and leave to infuse for 2 weeks. Then strain. A month would be better. Your fruit and leaves want to be absolutely dry. If you've only got the leaves, then go for 20-30 leaves in 1 cup of oil.

[@vals2498]

if the leaves are only available dried, how much of a difference does that make in the recipe? I live in Brazil and think I can only buy dried ;(

[@AzlinBloor]

Hi Val, dried kaffir lime leaves do have a slight aroma to them. If that's all you can get, then they'll have to do. You'd probably have to use quite a few to get the desired effect. Say you're cooking something for 4, I'd use 5 leaves at the start of cooking time, then about 5 minutes from the end of cooking, throw in 2-3 more leaves for a hit of fragrance. You could also give the citrus aroma a lift by grating in the zest of 1 lime right at the end, if you think the lime leaves on their own aren't doing the job.

[@vals2498]

@@AzlinBloor thanks so much!

[@AzlinBloor]

@@vals2498 my pleasure.

[@leticiagebin3885]

@@AzlinBloorcould I substitute the kaffir lime leaves with other lime leaves for the same purpose?

[@AzlinBloor]

@@leticiagebin3885 I'm afraid other lime leaves doen't have that aroma that kaffir lime leaves have. If you're cooking something that requires kaffir lime leaves, your best bet is to grate some lime zest. Whatever lime works.

[@LimeLivesMatter]

💚💚💚

[@helenfoong3696]

I have been trying to grow it but couldn't get the seeds here

[@AzlinBloor]

Where are you, Helen, in the UK too?

[@helenfoong3696]

@@AzlinBloor I'm in Canada..

[@AzlinBloor]

@@helenfoong3696 if you shop online, I suggest you try searching for kaffir lime plant. Here in the UK, we have a few garden centres who sell the plants. Ebay is also full of small businesses who sell "exotic" stuff.

[@peterstindl5003]

I use the juice for my Pepsi or other such drinks. But just a few drops to give it the lime taste. Don't take too much. The juice is very sour and might damage your teeth.

[@AzlinBloor]

That sounds like a great way to use what little juice you get out of the fruit.