Cooking with herbs adds a unique flavor to a dish – but the bonus doesn’t stop there. Herbs have the potential to boost your health, too. Join us as we explore the delicate balance between flavor and health offered by herbs.
1. Embrace Aromatic Aromas: Cooking with Herbs
Herbs have an incredible innate ability to enhance the flavors of any dish. Used in everything from soups to sauces and salads to desserts, they are an essential part of any home chef’s arsenal. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned chef, learning how to incorporate herbs as part of your meal preparation will drastically enhance the flavors of all your dishes.
Start simple, begin with herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary, dill and mint. These ingredients are widely accessible, and can readily be found fresh, or dried in supermarkets throughout the year. Often used in Italian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, these herbs work well in most savory dishes you prepare.
Getting creative with flavor. Experiment with herbs like coriander, chives, sage, marjoram, tarragon, garlic and lemongrass. These can provide an unexpected and unique flavor to your dishes. When used in combination with the herbs listed above, they deliver a depth of unusual flavors that will have people clamoring for more.
Integrating herbs into your meal with excellence requires a few basic need-to-know items.
- Dried herbs are generally used for longer-cooking dishes, such as stews and soups; while fresh herbs are more delicate, and are best used in lighter dishes, such as salads and dressings.
- For best tasting results, dont’t be afraid to use generous quantities.
- If you’re using both dried and fresh herbs, use a combination of both — it will give the dish much needed depth.
- Always add fresh herbs directly before serving. This will ensure they retain their flavor and vibrancy.
For a truly elevated culinary experience, use herbs to add a unique dimension to your dishes. More than just garnish, herbs add a depth of flavor, aroma, texture, and color to your meal. With some practice and creativity, you can elevate your cooking from amateur to master.
Finally, while words and ingredients can do much to express your signature flavor, it’s when you use herbs with freedom and love that your food will truly sparkle.
2. Unlock Real Flavor – The Wonders of Cooking with Herbs
Herbs aren’t just an afterthought! Just a pinch can instantly elevate your dish to the next level of flavor and complexity. Ready to unlock real flavor? Read below to learn more about the wonders of cooking with herbs.
- Taste – Herbs add a huge depth of flavor that can help create complex, delicious dishes. In general, the more the merrier when it comes to herbs! Dried herbs provide concentrated flavor, but be sure to dial back the amount since they are more potent.
- Aroma – Sometimes the smell alone, can trigger pleasant memories or cause excitement! Smell is linked directly to taste, and that’s especially true when it comes to fresh herbs. So don’t forget to sniff and savor the aromas.
- Texture – This is an often overlooked dimension of cooking with herbs. Herbs add a subtle crunchy texture, which goes well with creamy or softer foods. Some herbs, like parsley, can even be pureed into pesto, which adds a dimension of texture that can’t be replicated with other ingredients.
- Color – Seeing as taste is affected not just by the types of ingredients, but also the colors, herbs are a great way to add vibrancy to a dish. Consider adding tiny accents of color in the form of a sprig of thyme or rosemary or a bit of parsley as a garnish.
Unlocking real flavor is easy when you have the herbs to create delicious dishes. Finally, remember that there’s no need to be intimidated by fresh herbs. With some practice, you can quickly learn how to wield the power of herbs in your cooking.
So, unleash the wonders of cooking with herbs and start creating flavors that will tantalize your palate!
3. Cooking with Herbs – A Medicinal Elixir for Body and Mind
Using herbs to cook with is a fantastic way to nurture your body and mind. Not only do many herbs add subtle depth to your dishes, they can also bring additional medicinal benefits. Here are three medicinal herbs to help create an elixir for body and mind.
Tulsi: Also known as holy basil, tulsi is an aromatic herb with a complex flavor profile. It is traditionally valued for its calming and nurturing properties. When brewed as a tea, tulsi helps reduce stress levels while promoting digestive and respiratory health.
Ashwagandha: This is an adaptogenic herb, which means that it helps fight stress and protect against anxiety. As a tonic, ashwagandha helps the body respond to stress in a healthier way. When used in cooking, the herb works to balance the body’s natural processes and promote overall wellbeing.
Ginger: An ancient root with a spicy flavor, ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and digestive properties. It can help reduce pain and improve digestion. When added to dishes like stir fry, soup, or tea, ginger can help bring a sense of calm to the body and mind.
These three herbs are only a small selection of the many medicinal herbs available to cook with. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, preserve your immunity or simply bring extra flavor to a dish, herbs are a great way to benefit your body and mind. By combining these herbs in a single dish, you can create an elixir to help restore and nurture yourself both physically and mentally.
- Tulsi – calming and nurturing properties
- Ashwagandha – adaptogenic herb used to fight stress and anxiety
- Ginger – anti-inflammatory, improves digestion and brings a sense of calm
4. Nature’s Kitchen – Introducing Herbaceous Flavour to Your Dishes
Do you find yourself introducing the same old ingredients to your kitchen creations? Flesh out your dish with flavourful herbs and take your dishes to a new level. Nature’s Kitchen offers herbaceous and nutritious plant material to inspire your dishes.
An herbaceous flavour means more than just dried, store-bought herbs. We provide a greater variety to choose from:
- Organic, Low-Nitrogen Herbs: Picked in the peak of the season and preserved for a chilled flavour, these organic herbs bring freshness to your plate.
- Pungent Herbs: Used to add a strong, distinct flavour – think fresh garlic and onions!
- Dried Herbs: Dried herbs can provide a concentrated and consistent flavour to dishes.
Gently cooked or eaten raw, these herbaceous ingredients bring a complexity of flavour that can easily enhance your dishes. Whether it’s a sprinkle of basil over focaccia or a handful of thyme for your stuffing mix, Nature’s Kitchen’s range of herbs can introduce additional flavours to a variety of foods.
Herbs are also a great source of vitamins and minerals to add to your meals, all without having to load up on salt. Just add your favourite herb to your dishes to provide a boost of vitamin C, selenium, iron, and magnesium.
It’s time to bring new and exciting flavours to your kitchen. Have some fun with Nature’s Kitchen and add a range of herbaceous ingredient to your dishes!
Herbs have been used in cooking for hundreds of years, bringing both flavor and a range of health benefits. From rosemary to thyme, the versatility of herbs makes them a great addition to any meal. No matter what your meal endeavor, herbs are an easy way to introduce flavor and nutrition to your dishes. Eating with herbs doesn’t have to be daunting – it can be delicious!
