Cooking with herbs is a great way to add flavor to your food, as well as some health benefits. Here is a guide on how to cook with herbs.
When using fresh herbs, you will want to chop them up into small pieces. If you are using dry herbs, you will want to crush them between your fingers before adding them to your dish.
When using fresh herbs, you will want to lightly cook them in oil or butter for a few minutes before adding them to your dish.
If you are using dried herbs, you will want to add them towards the end of cooking, so they don’t lose their flavor.
Table of Contents
1. General guidelines on how to cook with herbs
- Basil - Add to pasta dishes, pizza, salads, and tomato sauces.
- Bay leaves - Add to stews, soups, and marinades.
- Chives - Great for flavoring eggs, salads, and soups.
- Cilantro - Add to Mexican dishes like salsa and tacos, also great in Asian cuisine.
- Dill - Adds flavor to fish, potatoes, and cucumber salads.
- Lemon balm - Use in tea and salads.
- Mint - Goes great in fruit cups and lamb dishes.
- Oregano - Adds flavor to tomatoes, breads, and Italian dishes.
- Parsley - Use as a garnish for many dishes or add to salads.
- Rosemary - Goes great with potatoes, beans, and lamb.
- Sage - Adds great flavor to meat dishes like turkey and chicken.
- Savory - Great in soups, stews, and potato dishes.
- Thyme - Goes well with chicken, fish, and rice dishes.
2. What herbs cook well together?
Rosemary and thyme – Goes well with chicken, fish, and rice dishes.
Parsley and dill – Adds flavor to potatoes and cucumber salads.
Basil and thyme – Goes well with Italian dishes like pizza and pasta.
Thyme and paprika – Great in meat dishes like turkey and chicken.
Cilantro and mint – Perfect for Mexican cuisine, also great in Asian cuisine.
3. Which herbs are best for vegetables?
Here are some herbs that go well with various types of vegetables:
Broccoli – Goes great with thyme, ginger, and garlic.
Cauliflower – Try using a combination of rosemary, thyme, and sage.
Asparagus – Goes well with lemon balm, chives, and dill.
Green beans – Pair with thyme, mint, or lemon balm.
Zucchini – Try using a combination of basil, thyme, or oregano.
4. What about herbs for dessert?
Herbs can also be used in sweet dishes. Here are a few ideas:
Mint – Add to fruit cups, smoothies, and yogurt.
Lemon balm – Use in tea and salads.
Basil– Great in ice cream, smoothies, and jams.
Cilantro – Add to chutneys, syrups, and fruit cups.
Chocolate – Sprinkle some mint on top of your next chocolate dessert!
When cooking with herbs, be creative and experiment! You might be surprised at how great they taste in different dishes.