Create allergy card
← Browse ingredients

Makrut lime leaf

Makrut lime leaf is a fragrant citrus leaf commonly used to flavor Thai and Southeast Asian curries, soups, and stir-fries.

Makrut lime leaf — illustrative ingredient image

About Makrut lime leaf

Kaffir lime leaf is the aromatic leaf of a citrus tree, valued primarily for fragrance rather than bulk. It flavours Thai and other Southeast Asian curries, soups, sauces, broths, salads, and spice pastes. The leaves are usually used whole, finely shredded, or cut into thin strips.

The leaves are deep green, glossy, and often double-lobed. They have a pronounced citrus aroma that becomes evident when torn, bruised, or heated. Fresh leaves are most fragrant; whole leaves scent a dish without necessarily being eaten, while sliced leaves contribute a more direct leafy texture.

Fresh, frozen, and dried leaves are all used when available. Whole leaves are commonly removed before serving, whereas thinly sliced leaves may remain in the dish. Drying and freezing change the leaf’s visible form and fragrance, and cutting or bruising releases aroma more directly during preparation.

Ingredient type
whole food

Forms & related ingredients

FOLLOW IT TO THE PLATE

Where will you meet it?

Explore the dishes that use this ingredient and their country and cuisine connections.

Explore linked dishes

ON A MENU OR LABEL

Find local names and written forms to help recognise this ingredient.

See local names

Where makrut lime leaf appears

33 linked foods

Find foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.

Showing 1–12 of 33

Main dishes

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for makrut lime leaf

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

makrut lime leaf

English

Makrut lime leaves

Search alias · Not a confirmed translation

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Makrut lime leaf nutrition & diet

Makrut lime leaf nutritional value

Reference: Kaffir lime, leaves, raw

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
136.7kcal
Protein
5.5g
Carbs
21.7g
Fat
3.1g

Official national food-composition reference. The displayed food form is part of the estimate; cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Use the aromatic leaf primarily as a flavoring and identify whether it is left whole, sliced, bruised, infused, or removed before serving. The edible amount differs by preparation; curry paste, soup, sauce, coconut products, oil, sugar, and protein ingredients belong to the complete recipe.

Compare the right form: Match identified kaffir lime leaves in fresh, frozen, or dried culinary form, noting whether leaves are eaten, infused, or removed before serving.

Diet considerations

Kaffir lime leaf is a plant-derived citrus seasoning when correctly identified. Plain use can fit plant-based cooking, but curries, soups, sauces, and pastes may contain seafood, meat, dairy, coconut, sugar, oil, or cereal ingredients. Assess the full recipe, and confirm the local citrus identity where naming is uncertain.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Thai Food Composition Table, SMILING 2013 — 12043 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .