On the Use of Herbs and Spices
Among the people who use herbs and spices, few know what they are doing. Many just like to add them to their cooking for flavor and better taste.
But since there is currently a lot of herbs and spices available, do you know which ones work best with a particular dish?
As stated on its title, this lens is a simple guide to cooking with herbs and spices.
Furthermore, relevant information about my favorite herbs will be added, as well as a few recipes from my kitchen and others'.
Which herbs and spices to use?
some other not so well. Here is a simple guide to help you get it right.
Basil:
pasta, tomato dishes, pesto, eggs, cheese, salads, italian dishes, Thai dishes.
Caraway seeds:
stir-fries
Cardamom:
rice, rice cakes, cookies
Cinnamon:
cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, toasts, rice pudding. Can also be infused into tea, soups, stews and sauces.
Coriander seeds:
poultry, fish
Chili:
spicy dishes
Chives:
potatoes, sauces, salads, eggs, savory pancakes
Cilantro:
Asian soups, salads, pesto, chicken, dips and sauces
Cloves:
baked hams, fruit salads, Oriental chicken dish, mulled drinks
Dried herbs:
meat, poultry, fish
Dill:
fish especially salmon and shrimp, mayonnaise or thick dressing, potatoes, tartar sauce
Garlic:
sauces, most vegetable dishes, meat and poultry, spreads
Ginger:
ice cream, Chinese dishes, tea, cookies
Lemon Grass:
tea
Mint:
eggs, lamb, fruit salad, iced tea , chocolate sauces and garnish on deserts such as: cakes, ice cream
Mustard Seeds:
meat and poultry
Oregano:
fish, tomato sauce, pizzas
Paprika:
chicken, rice
Parsley:
cucumber salad, green salad, potato, rice, pasta, egg, garnish on fish dishes, broiled meats and vegetables, seafood, soup, stew, gratins
Rosemary:
roast chicken, lamb, pork, potato, beans, polenta, quesadillas
Salt and Pepper:
most savory dishes.
Saffron:
rice, stews and soups
Sage:
bread, cheese, stuffing, sausage, turkey
Tarragon:
lamb, chicken, fish, mayonnaise
Thyme:
poultry, soups, and stuffing
Tumeric:
Rice
Recommended reading
The Herb Society of America's Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking With Herbs
Amazon Price: $16.48 (as of 12/19/2009) ![]()
List Price: $29.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor
Amazon Price: $25.16 (as of 12/19/2009) ![]()
List Price: $34.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
Famous mixed herbs
Fines herbes: chervil, chives and tarragon. Mostly used with omelettes to make the famous "Omelette aux fines herbes."
Herbes de Provence: Bay leaf, thyme, fennel, rosemary, chervil, oregano, summer savory, tarragon, mint, and marjoram. Some recipes call for orange zest and/or lavender. Good on rotisseries.
Parsley and garlic: main ingredient in persillade, which is a French sauce. Great with meats and vegetables.
Did you know?
parsley, basil, thyme, cumin, mint, rosemary, cilantro, oregano, ginger, lemon grass, garlic.
2. Best when dried:
bay leaves, tarragon, black pepper, cayenne pepper, paprika.
3. Growing herbs indoors is easier than you might think. Basil, especially, loves a sunny window sill.
4. Prolonged cooking causes fresh herbs to lose their flavor.
5. Fresh herbs are great in breads including cornbreads, biscuits, dumplings, savory pancakes and waffles.
6. Fresh herbs can be stored in the refrigerator with their stems in water.
7. Dried herbs are good to store for approximately four to six months. Kept too long, dried herbs will loose their flavor and spices will taste stale.
You might need...
My favorite herbs
1. Parsley: the king of herbs
Parsley, or carum petroselinum (bot.) belongs to the Petroselinum crispum species. It is used for its leaves but also for its roots. There are two varieties of parsley used as herb: the curly leaf and the flat leaf which is also known as Italian leaf parsley.Parsley is packed with Vitamin C but it is also rich in iron and B vitamins, especially B9 or Folate.
Many people use parsley as garnish but you can also chew it raw for fresh breath or brew it like tea or tisane .
Parsley is associated with better digestive and cardiovascular activity. It also promotes elimination due to its high enzyme content.
- Nutrition facts
- Here is what you get in one tablespoon of raw parsley.
- How to use parsley in your recipes
- Find out which dishes go best with parsley and enjoy a recipe from Linda Gilbert.
- Cultivation
- How and when to grow parsley
- Parsley in different civilizations
- Learn the role of parsley in Roman, Greek and Egyptian civilizations.
- What about Hamburg parsley?
- If you are more into parsley root, this is for you:
cultivars, planting, timing, bed, growing... - Neapolitan parsley: the persley grown for its stalks
- Very limited information is available about Neapolitan parsley. You will find a good source here.
Roast chicken and parsley
Try this easy recipe
You will need:1 whole chicken
1 quarter cup of good Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon of finely chopped parsley
1 teaspoon of crushed dried thyme
1 bunch parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, chopped parsley,crushed thyme, salt and pepper.
Rub the chicken with the above dressing.
Stuff the bird loosely with the bunch of parsley
Bake, uncovered, in a preheated oven for about 1 1/4 hours.
Serve hot and enjoy with julienned beets and minced garlic salad.
For he above salad, you will only need: julienned beets, minced garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.
2. Basil
Basil or Ocimum basilicum is native to three Asian countries: India, Pakistan and Thailand despite its current association with Italian cuisine.The sweet basil as we now it nowadays has a strong and pleasant fragrance. It is best when used fresh. It compliments very well pasta and tomato dishes.
If using basil in your cooking, it should be added at the end of the cooking time and should be cooked for only a couple of minutes for maximum flavor.
Dried basil does not keep much of the flavor so if at all possible, use fresh one.
How to use and store basil
3. Chives
Chives or Allium schoenoprasum originated in northern Europe and Asia. They are known to be the smallest species of the onion family. They have a mild onion-like flavor.There are two known types of chives as herb: the common chives and the Chinese chives, also called garlic chives which has a garlic flavor. Both can be used in cooking.
Chive nutrition facts
Cultivation and harvesting
My favorite omelet
Try it!
3 beaten eggs
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup shredded cheddar
salt and pepper to taste
Cooking spray such as Pam
Warm a non-stick omelet pan that has been lightly coated with Pam cooking spray over medium-high heat.
Pour in eggs, swirling around pan to distribute evenly.
Let cook for a minute, lifting sides of omelet to let uncooked egg flow underneath.
When the egg whites have actually turned white, add the chopped tomatoes and chives.
Season with salt and pepper.
Let cook for a few more minutes until completely set.
Quickly sprinkle cheese over the omelet, fold and cook for an additional 20 seconds.
Enjoy.
What is your favorite herb/spice? Want to share any tips?
Comments always welcome!
-
Reply
- rosegeranium rosegeranium Nov 10, 2009 @ 10:45 am
- It is always great to read more about herbs. I can never grow enough basil but I love peppermint, chives, tarragon, garlic, scented geraniums and lavender.
-
Reply
- sara08852 sara08852 Jul 18, 2009 @ 7:44 am | in reply to marymc
- You're more than welcome to. Thanks.
-
Reply
- marymc marymc Jul 1, 2009 @ 7:21 am
- I'm sucha fan of spices and have even done a lens on the healing power of spices. I am very impressed with this lens--you sure put a lot of time, effort and knowledge in it. Good job. May I link it on my lens?
-
Reply
- MrMarmalade MrMarmalade Jun 29, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
- Thank you for extending my knowledge. We use a lot of herbs, in most cases purely on taste.
Rated 5 stars ***** and fav U
-
Reply
- Sojourn Sojourn Jun 26, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
- Yup, chalk me up as one of the folks who forgets they're there! I also didn't know some were better fresh and some were better dried. You definitely gave me some inspiration to try using more of them when I cook. Thanks!
- Load More
If you like this lens...
You are also invited to visit a few lenses I built.
Overview below:-
Baby bedding and Custom Nursery Accessories
-
So you are having a new baby! You've turned the spare room into a nursery. You're done painting and decorating. You even bought a new crib, maybe some baby bedding too. Now to complete your nursery, this lens will show you all the accessories you mig...
-
Custom and Handmade Crib Bedding
-
I am talking about all the preparations parents undertake to welcome their new baby. It is a lot of work, it is a long list but it is so exciting. Part of that preparation is making sure the nursery is ready. Maybe you have painted it already, bough...
-
Everything Stokke: Baby Products, Crib Systems and Custom Bedding to Fit
-
Stokke is a Norwegian company that specializes in children´s furniture and equipment. Its headquarters are located in Ålesund, Norway. The company is lead by Kristine Landmark, CEO. Stokke sells its products through selected retailers in many countr...
by sara08852
My website is called: (more)


























