Creative Side of Cooks Comes Out with Fresh Herbs
It is hard to imagine how bland and uninteresting our food and cooking would be without the individual and unique flavors fresh herbs can impart. The use of fresh herbs in cooking has never been more popular than it is today and it is prized for centuries and in all cultures.
The availability of fresh herbs in today’s markets allows anyone to be a more creative cook, while they are an integral part of the world’s great cuisines. Herbs that are readily available often include parsley, cilantro, basil, tarragon, rosemary, dill, thyme and sage. Other herbs are available seasonally at farmers’ markets and produce stands.
They are appealing plants, attractive to bees and butterflies and require little care other than a sunny location. Herbs are best when young and fresh, so consider growing your own. Most are easy to grow, either in the yard or in pots on the deck or in the window.
It’s a double pleasure to run out to the garden and snip my homegrown herbs and then use them to enhance the evening meal. It is the leaves that are used in cooking, and their production slows as flowering starts, so harvest often to encourage leaf growth.
Their flavor boost will counteract the reduction or elimination of salt, butter or other fats. For those bored or anxious about vegetables, herbs may bring about an attitude adjustment, encouraging new flavors and experimentation. While the creative cook may try experimenting with various combinations, the novice herbal cook should try some established pairings.
It is advisable to start by adding small amounts of chopped fresh herbs to your dish and then taste. Continue adding and tasting until the flavor is appealing. There are no rules when it comes to cooking with herbs.
Use half the amount of dried herbs as you would fresh ones. When adding fresh herbs to soups, sauces or vegetables, wait until the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time for maximum flavor. While the flavor of fresh herbs is superior, dried herbs may be a necessary substitution.
By: Jron Magcale
Herbal Remedy - PrimeHerbal22.03.2007. 17:42
This article hasn't been commented yet.
Write a comment