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Cooking with Herbs
Using fresh and dried herbs is a creative and healthy way to liven
up the flavors of your meals. Herbs can be used in a variety of ways to give a variety of flavors. They can be especially
helpful to people who are on restricted salt or sugar diets, adding flavor and palatability to what might otherwise be a bland diet.
Here I'll show you how to use herbs in many different ways: fresh, dried,
frozen, as well as how to use herbal oils and vinegars. There's also a table showing some of
the different herbs that can be used with different foods.
- Fresh Herbs
- If you have your herb garden outside your back door like I do, or have herbs growing in pots in your kitchen, you can easily
add fresh herbs to all your meals. Snip off a sprig or two, then strip off the leaves. Rub them between your fingers to bruise them,
then mince with a very sharp knife. Usually for fresh herbs you want to use about 1 teaspoon for every two servings. If you are
using the herbs in something that cooks for along time, such as soup or stew, add the herbs only in the last 20 minutes or so
to prevent them from turning bitter. If, on the other hand, you are using them in something that does not cook, such as a salad dressing,
let it sit for an hour or two so the flavor will pervade the dish. You can keep bouquets of fresh herbs in water in jars in the refrigerator.
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- Dried Herbs
- Dried herbs are readily available at supermarkets, or you can dry your own. If possible, try to store them whole, and crumble them only
when you are ready to cook them. Use about half the amount of dried herbs as you would of fresh, as the flavor is more concentrated. Use a small
coffee grinder for larger spices such as allspice or nutmeg; a mortar and pestle works well for smaller seeds and leaves. You can soak dried herbs
in warm liquid (broth, oil, or water, for example) before adding them to the dish to intensify the flavor. (Back to Top)
- Frozen Herbs
- Most herbs can be successfully stored frozen; in fact, for some freezing is a better alternative than drying. Parsley, for example, loses
most of its flavor when dried. Toss frozen herbs right into the pot when cooking; defrost and drain beore using in salads or other uncooked dishes.
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- Herbal Vinegars and Oils
- Use flavored oils if you are dieting; the extra flavor allows you to cut back on the amount of oil you use without noticing. Oils can be used to saute
with, or in salad dressings and marinades. Use vinegars also in dressings and marinades, or to deglaze the pan after sauteing. (Back to Top)
 
Dry Beans | Green Beans | Beef | Broccoli |
Cumin Garlic Mint Onions Oregano Savory |
Basil Caraway Dill Marjoram Mint Savory |
Basil Bay Leaf Caraway Garlic Ginger Marjoram |
Onion Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme |
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Basil Garlic Lemon Balm Sesame Tarragon Thyme |
Carrots | Chicken | Corn | Eggs |
Anise Basil Dill Chives Ginger Thyme |
Anise Basil Bay Leaf Chives Dill Garlic |
Marjoram Onion Oregano Parsley Rosemary Saffron |
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Chervil Chives Lemon Balm Saffron Sage Thyme |
Anise Basil Cayenne Chives Savory Tarragon |
Fish | Fruit | Mushrooms | Peas |
Anise Basil Dill Chives Fennel Garlic
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Oregano Parsley Rosemary Saffron Savory Tarragon
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Anise Cinnamon Ginger Lemon Balm Mint Rosemary |
Coriander Marjoram Oregano Rosemary Tarragon Thyme
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Caraway Chervil Chives Mint Savory Thyme
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Pork | Potatoes | Rice | Spinach |
Anise Caraway Garlic Ginger Rosemary Sage |
Basil Chives Coriander Dill Fennel Garlic |
Marjoram Onion Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme |
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Basil Fennel Onion Saffron Tarragon Thyme |
Basil Chervil Chives Dill Garlic Rosemary |
Squash | Stuffing | Tomatoes | Turkey |
Basil Cinnamon Dill Marjoram Rosemary Sage |
Garlic Onion Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme |
Basil Bay Leaf Chives Dill Garlic Marjoram |
Oregano Parsley Sage Savory Tarragon Thyme | |
Basil Garlic Onion Saffron Sage Tarragon |
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