How Much Lemon Zest Is on One Lemon?

To zest a lemon, peel away just the yellow part of the lemon, leaving the white pith behind. Use a microplane to grate the zest away from the lemon, or use a standard peeler to pull it away in chunks and chop it finely before use.

The Asian herb lemongrass may also be substituted for lemon zest, as it has a similar lemon flavor. Lemon leaves impart a similar flavor, but they provide a very different texture.