Quick Guide to some Culinary Herbs

Using Herbs in Recipes

Quick guide to some common potherbs and their culinary uses and the foods, dishes, and vegetables they enhance.

Basil

(Ocimum basilicum)
Tomatoes, soups, salads, pizza, salad dressings, chicken dishes, egg dishes, salmon, tuna, spaghetti, meatloaf, dips, herb sandwiches, green beans, wax beans, cauliflower, corn

Bay leaves

(Laurus nobilis)
Meats, stews, steamed fish, sauces, soups, pickling, casseroles, stocks, syrups, garnish, pâté and terrines

Chervil

(Anthriscus cerefolium)
Eggs, salads, vegetables, soups, chicken, fish, herb butter, cottage cheese

Chives

(Allium schoenoprasum)
Dips, sauces, spreads, garnish, cold chicken, barbecued meats, baked and mashed potatoes, egg dishes, cheese soufflés, salads, carrots, soups, vichyssoise, herb sandwiches

Cilantro

(Coriandrum sativum)
Salads, guacamole, soups, stews, salsas, chutneys, dips, beans, soups, used in Asian, Mexican, Indian, Tex Mex, Caribbean, and North African cuisines

Coriander

(Coriandrum sativum)
Ginger cookies, curry, Indian dishes, Greek dishes, Asian cooking, pickles, veal, fish, fruit puddings, tea cakes, apple crumbles

Dill weed

(Anethum graveolens)
Seafood and shellfish, salads, herb butter, dips, sauces, soups, vegetable stews, fish dishes, vinegars and oils, breads and sandwiches, egg and cheese dishes, green beans, wax beans, cabbage, seeds are used in pickling, coleslaw, cakes, breads, teas

Fennel

(Foeniculum vulgare)
Salads, fish, duck, pork, veal, sauces, stuffings / dressings, mayonnaise, flavored butters, salad dressings, seeds used in breads

Lemon grass / Lemongrass

(Cymbopogon citratus)
Soups, sauces, stirfry, chicken, tomatoes, fish, seafood, beef, Caribbean and Asian dishes (Thai and Vietnamese)

Mint

(Mentha)
Carrots, lamb sauce, pea soup, soft cheeses, herb sandwiches, egg dishes, vegetables such as buttered peas, mashed potatoes, mint ice, cold drinks, mint juleps, mint jelly, sauces, tea, garnish, desserts (Peppermint)

Oregano

(Origanum vulgare)
Meat sauces, tomato sauces, breads, Italian dishes, veal, egg dishes, vegetables, pizza, salads, casseroles, soups (tomato, pea), pates and poultry dishes, beans, rice, cabbage

Parsley

(Petroselinum crispum )
Fish and meat sauces, salads, soups (vegetable, tomato, fish), dips, vegetables, omelettes and other egg dishes, breads and sandwiches, sausage, stuffing, hamburgers, tuna loaf, potatoes, salad dressings, garnishes

Rosemary

(Rosmarinus officinalis)
Lamb, chicken and poultry sauces, beef and mutton stock, vegetables in particular cauliflower, breads and scones, dumplings, liver pâté, stews, dressings

Sage

(Salvia officinalis)
Stuffing / dressing, soups (Minestrone, chicken), sauces, pork, meatballs, meatloaf, Welsh rabbit, pizza, fish, goose, duck, sausage, casseroles, omelettes, vegetarian stews, salads, Brussels sprouts

Savory

(Satureja)
Vegetables, dried bean dishes, soups, lentils, eggs, stuffings / dressings, condiments, hamburger, gravy

Sorrel

(Rumex scutatus)
Cold soups, salads, vegetables, fish, white sauces, cream sauces, eggs, poultry and white meats, goat cheese

Sweet Marjoram

(Origanum majorana)
Peas, stuffings / dressings, soups, salads, sauces, egg and cheese dishes, stews, fruit salads

Tarragon

(Artemisia dracunculus)
Chicken / poultry, fish sauces and soups, tarragon tartare sauce (tartar sauce), mushrooms, meats, liver, pâté, seafoods, egg dishes, green salads, mayonnaise, cream and butter sauces, salad dressings, vinegars and oils, vegetables (green beans and cauliflower in particular), butter, cottage cheese

Thyme

(Thymus vulgaris)
Chowders, cheese, salads, chicken and fish marinades, beef broth, soups (vegetable, chicken), liver, pâté, meatballs, meatloaf, braised rabbit, chicken, stuffing, egg dishes, broccoli, beans, lentil stew, tomatoes, butters, cottage cheese, vinegars and oils

Growing Your Own Herbs vs. Store Bought

The most common practice and easiest way to get cooking herbs of course is to go to the grocery store and purchase them there. If you don't have the time or space to grow your own then this is the next best solution. But if you are interested in trying your hand at gardening then I am sure you will find it very rewarding and will not want to go back to buying them again. Here are some of the benefits of growing your own herbs.

1. Being able to walk outside into your herb garden and pick them fresh is probably the most common benefit. On occasion where you run out of a particular herb it can be more convenient to have it fresh at hand then having to take a drive to the store.

2. Another thing that you will enjoy more is the flavour. Fresh picked herbs are always much more flavourful then ones that are bought at the store. For obvious reasons, they are fresh, the prepackaged ones may have been sitting on the shelf for quite a bit of time.

3. Another reason for growing your own is financial, if you live on a budget it can be expensive to buy herbs, when you grow your own the cost of having them is very minimal. The only real cost will be in your seeds, soil or pots and in your time and effort of taking care of them.

4. Other benefits of growing them vs buying them are you know where they come from, and if they are grown without the use of pesticides or harsh chemicals. As a home grower you can make the choice as to whether you want to grow them completely organic or using chemicals. It gives you the control in what you are putting in your body.

5. Not only will you know what you are putting into your body but fresh home grown herbs have a lot more nutrient content. The longer a herb sits the less vitamin and mineral content there will be in them.

6. You also may choose to grow your own just because you feel a sense of pride and joy in watching them grow and in the ritual of harvesting them, storing them and using them in your favorite recipes. Just that alone is why a lot of people choose to grow.

7. As a home grower you can have more of a variety of herbs at your fingertips. It allows you to experiment more with your recipes and try new and interesting things. For instance you may not be able to find a certain herb at your grocery store but you can find the seeds to grow them.

8. Herbs also can be used for other purposes as well to making gifts for friends or loved ones or even to sell at a roadside stand if you have a lot of extra. If you want to be extra courteous you can always give some away as well.

9. Another important reason that I must mention to growing your own is to help out the environment. Having your own garden is healthy for the Eco-system, plants are mother natures way of cleaning the air around us as well as attracting pollinating insects. Not only do you give back to the earth by growing but you also cut back on buying from the store. Every herb bought in the store is packaged in a plastic, etc type packaging, as well as shipped by truck. Anytime we can reduce our consumption of transported and packaged goods is a great way to give back to the planet.

If you do not have the space, time or interest to grow your own then the grocery store products can be used effectively and can serve the same purpose. Either way the choice is yours. Only you can decide which option is best for you. As long as you are enjoying the process of using herbs in your recipes then that is all that will matter.

Cooking Herbs

Cooking herbs as we like to refer to it are a range of herbs that are used for culinary purposes/cooking. They are used generally to enhance or change a flavour of a certain food. There are many type of herbs, some are considered medicinal and they are used mainly for physical ailments and to enhance or cure health problems. But this blog isn't about medicinal herbs, It will be all about cooking or culinary herbs. I love many types of herbs for their variety of purposes. In the case of culinary herbs they enhance any sort of dish from meat, seafood,vegetables,soups,stews,pastas and even to baked goods. I have always loved to experiment with spices and flavours and also love to cook and bake. I used to buy the majority of my spices at the grocery store and still do buy them. But recently have started to grow my own at home. It is very simple to do and you get a supply of fresh herbs all year round that are much better tasting, economical, healthier as they are free from chemicals, not to mention the satisfaction of eating what you grow. My purpose of this blog is to share with others my herb adventures and to educate others on the various herbs and their uses. Also to give you tips as to where to grow, buy, prepare and find resources.