How to prepare lemongrass stalks

1.Lay the stalk on a work surface, then bash along the length of it using the flat edge of a large, heavy knife (this helps release the aromatic oils).

2.Trim off the white end of the bashed lemongrass stalk and discard.

3. Peel away and discard the tough woody outer layers to reveal the tender centre. You may need to remove 3 or 4 layers, depending on the thickness of the stalk.

4. Slice the soft middle as finely as you can, ready to use in your recipe.