Found my makrut tree YAAY Tom Yum soup

[hoodat]

After a lot of looking I finally found a makrut tree, also known as Kiefer lime. It looks great; nice and green. It could stand a little more root ball before I transplant it. Nasty temper though. It bit me when I was putting it in the car. Thorny little devil.
My mouth waters every time I look at it. Tom yum soup - sweet and sour shrimp. It opens up a whole new world of Southeast Asian cooking. The leaves are all but impossible to find in food stores, even the oriental ones, and when you do they usually aren't very fresh. I already have my galangal going and the rest of the ingredients are pretty easy to find.

 

[beavis]

I want one! Which nursery had the tree and do they have more?

That Tom Yum soup looks awesome, must try it soon!

 

[hoodat]

I got it at the Walter Andersens just off Pacific Hwy. They had several more in 5 gallon size. I'm not sure whether the one in Poway has any or not.

 

[beavis]

After googling Kaffir Lime in San Diego, it looks like I may be in luck at the WalterAnderson Nursery in Poway. Looks like they may be the place to go.

 

[lesa]

I always learn about something new from you, Hoodat! So, you actually use the leaves, not the fruit. I am guessing you don't prepare a lot of boring meals!

 

[hoodat]

The rind (zested) from the fruit is often used in recipes but the inside of the fruit is not juicy like a regular lime and so far as I know has no cooking use. The leaves are the real reason for growing it. There is no substitute for it in much Thai, Laotian and Vietnamese cooking. It's also used in Indian and North African recipes.
I live alone so an interest in cooking keeps me from falling into the frozen dinner habit so many older men fall into.

 

[lesa]

That is one of the sort of unexpected benefits of gardening... You do need to learn how to cook and prepare what you grow! So cooking becomes a hobby, weather you were planning on it or not! Of course, the health benefits are many. Growing the food for exercise, and eating it for nutrition. I love a win/win situation!

 

[wifezilla]

You really want to be forced to cook, go low carb!