• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Singapore HomepageExpat Living Singapore

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • Repton Schoolhouse Singapore kids outdoors play-based kindergartens in SingaporeWant your kids to learn through play?
        • Keppel BayThe best places to watch the sunset
        • V dayValentine’s Day gifts & date ideas
        • 28 HK drinkNew bars and nightspots to try!
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • feautureStreet Art in Singapore – spot the difference!
        • royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner39 Fun Things To Do In Singapore
        • Keppel BayThe best places to watch the sunset
        • East Coast park beachThe best parks for picnics in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • Repton Schoolhouse Singapore kids outdoors play-based kindergartens in SingaporeWant your kids to learn through play?
        • East Coast park beachThe best parks for picnics in Singapore
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
        • brain mappingThe benefits of brain mapping for your child
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • where to buy furniture in singaporeWhere to buy furniture in Singapore – online too!
        • dining room table –Dining tables – where did you buy yours?
        • furniture direct from the manufacturerHome furniture for indoor and outdoor
        • Dining roomsDining furniture that will have you drooling!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • Glamping Time + Time NsoloGlamping: The best kind of camping!
        • The Fullerton Hotel kids room tent4 fun family staycays – with deals!
        • Merdeka - Where to stay in ThailandWhere to stay in Thailand, reviews & more
        • Covid-19 travel woman mask airportCOVID-19 travel: What to expect
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Kopi breakfastAll you need to know about kopi
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • 28 HK drinkNew bars and nightspots to try!
        • Afterglow by Anglow vegan30+ fantastic vegetarian and vegan restaurants
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • where to buy bras in singaporeGorgeous lingerie to spice up your life!
        • Facial at homeStay at home facial products – reviewed!
        • fashoionShopping in Singapore – Fashion News
        • Weekend sunday clothesShopping from home – a new online marketplace!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • nutritionist in singaporeRoot cause medicine
        • Oh my goodnessHow to eat clean in Singapore
        • frequent urge to pee overactive bladderHow to treat that frequent urge to pee
        • kidsHelping our children deal with stress
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close
Home » Wine & Dine » Recipes & Classes » Kaffir lime leaf: Cooking with Asian ingredients at home

Kaffir lime leaf: Cooking with Asian ingredients at home

19th December 2019 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/kaffir-lime-leaf-cooking-with-asian-ingredients-at-home/

This month’s ingredient: Kaffir Lime Leaf

What is it?

The kaffir lime is a dark green citrus fruit akin to the regular lime but with a rough, bumpy skin.The plant has a double leaf, the lower part oval in shape and the upper lobe pointed and connected to it by a “waist”. When freshly picked, the leaf’s surface is shiny and replete with essential oils, making the leaf the richest and most aromatic part of the plant. The leaf size varies from less than an inch when new (bright green) to several inches (darker green) when mature; the mature leaves are usually preferred for cooking.

Kaffir lime leaf
The fruit looks knobbly and unattractive but kaffir lime leaves have a multitude of uses

The flavour

The leaves and grated zest of the lime lend a citrusy, herbal, astringent flavour and an almost floral aroma and are preferred over the fruit itself, which yields little juice. Most people do not actually eat the leaf unless they are young and tender and finely sliced into slivers for use in dishes such as Thai fish cakes or salads. Just one or two leaves are enough to flavour a pot of soup, for example tom yum goong. The leaves can be frozen for many months without losing flavour.

Where can you find it?

At wet markets and in the refrigerated vegetable section of most supermarkets.

Try it in Town

Aside from its ubiquitous use in Thai cuisine, you can try this flavour with a modern twist in upmarket cocktail bars like Ku De Ta. Order the Kaffir lime and Ginger Martini ($20) –  Grey Goose Vodka, lime and ginger preserve, fresh ginger, kaffir lime,  lychee and pressed apple juice.

Health benefits

• The essential oils in the leaves, thought to have therapeutic benefits, are extracted and used for bath products (toss in a few lightly crushed leaves for a naturally scented bath) and shampoos, with the added benefit that the lime aroma is believed to have a positive mental uplifting effect

• The extract of the plant helps increase the circulation of the blood and like all members of the citrus family acts anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory

• It’s thought to be a mosquito repellent, like other plants such as citronella and turmeric

Cooking it at home

  • Stuff quartered whole Kaffir limes and garlic inside the poultry cavity and gently slide the leaves under the skin before basting with butter and roasting in order to infuse a refreshing citrus and garlicky flavour
  • When cooking jasmine rice, throw in a few bruised leaves and some coconut milk along with the water and then cook as normal to impart a fresh aroma and delicately creamy taste to the rice.

RECIPE : Zingy Kaffir Lime Sorbet

Sorbets are frozen, whipped syrups with a scoop-able texture due to the use of significant quantities of sugar, which lowers the freezing point of the base. This gives the sorbet an almost creamy consistency despite its being dairy-free and fat-free.

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 3½ cups water; or try coconut water (not milk) for a different twist

• Pinch of salt

• 12 Kaffir lime leaves, slightly bruised in your palm

• 3 tablespoons fresh calamansi juice (from about six calamansi limes, depending on size)

• 1 cup of caster sugar

• 1 Tbsp finely grated lime rind (from 2 limes) for decoration

Method

1. In a small saucepan, put water, salt, sugar and the bruised lime leaves. Start with cold ingredients to extract the most from these aromatic flavours. Bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

2. When the leaves have faded to a dull olive green, take the pot off the heat and allow to cool (to speed this process put pan in an ice bath).

3. If using an ice-cream maker, allow the mixture to cool completely and then refrigerate it until cold. (I cheated by putting the ice-bath-cooled liquid in the freezer for an hour.)

4. Add the calamansi juice, adjusting the amount to suit your taste.

5. Add mixture to ice-cream maker and start to churn. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, you can freeze it in a shallow dish for about 45 minutes, or until ice crystals form around the edge. Using a fork, stir the crystals and refreeze until crystals reform. Stir again and freeze for another hour, stirring every 15 minutes or so until all the juice is frozen.

6. If using an ice-cream maker, freeze the churned sorbet for an hour or so before serving; this will improve the texture. To serve, scoop into martini glasses, tuck  in 2 leaves at the side and top with grated zest.

An aromatic and refreshing palate cleanser, or a sophisticated yet simple dessert. (Add a glug or two of vodka or cachaça for an adults-only take.)

Categories: Recipes & Classes Wine & Dine Tags: Singapore Hawker Centres Singapore Local Food

Expat Living

Expat Living has everything to help you make the most of living in Singapore! We've got information on neighbourhoods, things to do and see, dining, entertainment, schools, travel, fashion, furniture, finance, health and beauty. And more!

You May Also Like

Dry January: Alcohol-free drinks to try!

little caesars pizza delivery order online singapore

5 things about Little Caesars Pizza Singapore

SIRI HOUSE

Take your taste buds travelling!

Primary Sidebar

Editor's Picks

where to buy furniture in singapore

Where to buy furniture in Singapore – online too!

royal albatross yacht singapore romantic dinner

39 Fun Things To Do In Singapore

kate marsden facial review iyac med spa aesthetic clinic

Best facials in Singapore: Our reviews!

brunch st regis singapore

Best Brunch Places in Singapore: Champagne Sunday Brunches

hair salon in Singapore before and after

Best Hair Salon In Singapore – Our Favourites

What's On

Singapore International Photography Festival exhibition

Singapore International Photography Festival 2020

Stone Stacks Stefanie Hauger solo exhibition Miaja Art Collections

Stone Stacks

ThisConnect - Threading Worlds

ThisConnect – Threading Worlds

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

#DrivingTomorrow pop-up exhibition by Porsche Singapore

Battle between Rama and Ravana Faith Beauty Love Hope Our Stories, Your ACM Asian Civilisations Museum

Faith Beauty Love Hope – Our Stories, Your ACM

Perfect Stranger by Dawn Ng asian civilisations museum exhibition

Perfect Stranger

Expat Living Singapore 🇸🇬

expatlivingsg

Open
If you’re looking for fun and memorable ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts or dates, we’ve gathered some that will earn you major brownie points. 

Flowers, staycations, workshops, spas, jewellery, romantic meals and even bungy jumping, we’ll let you do the choosing – or should we say wooing!

Take a look at the link on our stories ❤️
Open
Get our February issue delivered to you! To order, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/mag/ig

In this issue, go behind the lens and meet a couple who married under COVID restrictions, check out Greek restaurants for your Valentine’s Day dinner (and what to wear for it!), shop for fun kids’ furniture and find out how to win some stunning jewellery!
Open
Friday Giveaway! 

We love competitions and we have a fantastic 1-night stay in a Family Suite up for grabs with complimentary breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children at the InterContinental Singapore. 

To stand a chance to win, all you need to do is tag friends, follow @expatlivingsg and @interconsin on Instagram, then click on the link in our stories to enter. 

We will choose a winner on 5th February, so hurry and enter now. 

Good luck!  #intercontinentalsingapore #expatlivingsg #expatlife #singapore #intercontinentalLife #relax #vacationlife #staycation #win #familyfun #beautifulhotels #funhotel
Open
If the men in your life don’t like shopping around too much you can save your sanity by sending them the link to our article on the 10 best places to buy shirts 👔 

The link is on our stories
Open
Don’t we all love a home makeover! 

If you are looking for some easy, low-commitment ways to spruce up your home for the new year we have six tips on how to do a home makeover from Caroline Chin Geyler (link on our stories) she’s the founder and principal stylist of award-winning interior styling firm Arete Culture. 

The company is a four-time Gold Winner in our Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards (2017-2020) in the interior design and home styling category so they certainly know their stuff. 

As well as some fab tips she’s offering a special Chinese New Year makeover offer, too. At last our homes can look as stunning as these do @areteculture
Open
Guys: did you know that your skin is structurally different from that of ladies? For most men, androgen (testosterone) stimulation results in skin that’s thicker and tougher than women’s skin. This also means you might need something more than just your wife’s, mum’s or sister’s moisturiser or face wash! 

Lumin was founded on this concept; this California-based online store offers simple yet effective skincare for men, tailored to different skin types and concerns. So, whether you’re looking for a good face cleanser or a moisturiser for men, this is one brand to check out.

To differentiate Lumin from other men’s skincare brands, founders Richard Hong and Darwish Gani flew to South Korea to work on formulas that benefit the thicker and more stubborn skin constructs of men. Most of the ingredients used are powerful plant-based extracts like ginger root, rosemary, coffee and shea butter. The paraben-free and cruelty-free brand also makes a point of avoiding unnecessary nasties commonly associated with popular off-the-shelf products.

If it’s your first time shopping for men’s skincare, you’ll be glad to know that the Lumin experience is simple and fuss-free. Just fill out a brief questionnaire and you’ll get a personalised skincare regime that’s suited to your skin type and lifestyle. You can choose to go with a one-time purchase or have your products delivered on a subscription basis. Alternatively, shop from the curated range of skincare sets catered to different budgets and preferences.

Read about our readers review on our stories
Open
We are completely in love with the new Bvlgari Parfum Allegra that lets you customise your own scent...how cool is that! 
 
Step 1 - select your base fragrance 
Step 2 - personalise your fragrance with a magnifying essence 

The bottles are so pretty we want them all 💕 
 
The Allegra collection is available online at bulgari.com/en-sg and in-store at the Takashimaya Department Store from 19th January and if you can’t wait they also have a pop up only for today at ION SKY
Open
Say hello to our latest Kids' Guide! Want a free copy delivered to you? Visit 👉 expatliving.sg/KG and place your order before 30 January.
 
🧸 The guide has everything from finding an obstetrician and caring for your newborn, to fun activities and choosing the right schools for your child. There’s also lots of useful advice from other mums and dads.
Open
We love finding cool places to check out at weekends.

The Whiskey Library at the chic Vagabond Club Hotel is a must for Whiskey lovers. 

Be entertained by bespoke adventures such as specially curated (sung and told) Jazz stories, intimate theatre sessions, book readings, artist evenings, musical showcases, and even independent film premieres whilst enjoying delightful small bites. 

With a choice of over 1,000 rare and unique whiskeys you can even book a cool Staycation so you don’t have to travel home! @thevagabondclub
Open
So if you are still managing to cling onto dry January or still pondering whether to do dry February (like some of us here at EL), then you must check out our round up (link on stories) of alcohol free drinks to stock up on...we also spotted some pretty cool cocktail recipes on the links to help you out🍸🍹
Open
We are on the lookout for cute baby pics for our next issue. Have you or a friend just had a baby? Send over a baby pic with the date of birth and parents names to editorial@expatliving.sg and we'll feature them in our next issue (swipe to see an example of our baby noticeboard). Tag some friends in this post to share their news with us. 

All babies will receive a free personalised print from the gorgeous @hellosammyeve worth $150 (see 3rd pic). 

We just can’t wait to see the pics of those cute bubbas👶
Open
We are craving those pineapple tarts from @littlehouseofdreams packaged in a pretty eco-friendly canister with an engraved bamboo lid.

Check out their pretty gifts, hampers and roasts to help you usher in the year of the 🐂 

15% off regular items and 10% off gift sets until 31st Jan
Open
Hunting for new foodie places is a tough job but someone has to do it! 

Check out our stories link for a few new hot spots to try. There are more listed in our January print issue and others springing up next month!

Tag your favourite hot spots in our comments, we are always on the lookout 👀 🍽🍷🍻🍹
Open
We had some wonderful  celebrations today for our amazing Editor in Chief Rebecca. Happy Birthday and lots of love from all of the EL team ❤️ x
Open
We love cocktails in a can, what an easy start to kick off your weekend. Available in Espresso Martini, Margarita, Pineapple Daiquiri & Negroni - yum!  Order @curatif
Open
Time to get moving!

Our fitness experts share top tips helping to stick to those New Years resolutions 🏋️ 🧘‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️ 

Link in our stories
Open
The rain and cold winds getting you down? A warm beverage and maybe a good book to snuggle up to might just chase the blues away!

If hot chocolate is too mainstream for you, could we offer up this red velvet alternative? @littlefarms have a wide selection of oat milks, almond milks and soy milk options. 

Since it's #Veganuary, we recommend using dairy free milks to recreate this recipe....

2 cups non-dairy milk of choice
4 medjool dates (pitted)
1 tablespoon cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon beet powder

Add the milk and dates into a saucepan.
Heat, over medium, until it reaches a simmer. Add the warm milk with the dates and the remaining ingredients into a high speed blender.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Serve and enjoy! 

Image and recipe courtesy of @darngoodveggies
Open
Read our January issue on any device for free! To get started, visit 👉 expatliving.sg/digital/IG
In this issue, step inside a heritage shophouse, find out where our readers buy their carpets and dining tables, discover amazing glamping locations, plus find out how you can win a glamorous home decor prize worth over $7K!
Open
🎉 We're so pleased to announce the winners of our Readers' Choice Awards! Congrats to all the companies who were voted among the best in Singapore, and to the voters who won the amazing prizes. See the full results online now at 👉 expatliving.sg/readerschoice

.
#expatlivingsg #sgbusinesses #singaporebusiness #elsgreaderschoice
Open
What better way to choose movers than to get the inside scoop from happy customers themselves.

We hear from some individuals and families about their successful moves. 

Whether you’re relocating across the globe or just moving to the condo next door, you’re probably going to need some professional and reliable help to pack and transport for you so check out some recommendations in our stories
  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2021 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.