Growing Culinary Herbs

For thousands of years, people have been growing culinary herbs to aid in cooking. If you’d like to have fresh herbs for cooking, growing them is a great way to do it. There are herbs to suit every recipe, from spicy to tangy to salty to simply delicious.

Parsley is a herb best applied to a fish dinner but this popular herb can be bestowed upon a variety of meals with appetizing results. Do not downgrade your parsley to a simple decorative role with your meal, enjoy it in your chosen recipe for the day.

One of the most commonly called-for ingredients in recipes is thyme. Made from the leaves of a small woody-stemmed plant, thyme can add the perfect hint of flavor to just about anything. Great in a tuna casserole, a sophisticated stew, or a sauce to be spread over beef, even grilled chicken and cheese dishes can benefit from the addition of a bit of thyme.

One beautifully pungent herb used as a common addition to Italian dishes — Basil — is used for good reason. It adds what many chefs like to call the ‘right’ touch. This is an herb of many uses, whether used for varieties of recipes from colorful pastas to cheesy pizzas, and is recommended greatly when preparing one’s tomato sauce for sophisticated, delicious pasta dishes.

If you’re looking for something a little more spicy, you might want to try aniseed. The oil of this tastes much like licorice, which is why it is used to make artificial licorice. Tarragon is related to this herb. The leaves of tarragon have a spicy flavor that can be used to add flavor to both fish and mayonnaise alike.

Growing culinary herbs is surprisingly easy. All they require is sun, water, and soil. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, your herbs can thrive. They are very sturdy and resistant against disease. So what are you waiting for?

Another favorite herb is coriander seeds. These come from the plant that forms the base of cilantro. They have a citrusy flavor and are great on pork, in curry, or for chutney. Dill, an herb that has a bit of tang, is great for pickling or on a salad. It also makes for a great addition to olive oil.

Cooking makes heavy use of all the herbs that are derived from mint. Sage is one of the most popularly found in American kitchens, followed by rosemary. Peppermint is also great to add a zesty smell and taste to any dish. Any type of mint is a great complement to veal and potato dishes, soups, and even jellies and jams!

It’s less common for people to grow saffron, but anybody with a sense of adventure should try it. Its tangy, honey-like flavor is a delightful departure from the more “traditional” herbs. Turkish people add saffron to rice pudding, but it can also be used in chicken or fish dishes.

No matter what you enjoy cooking, your masterpieces will be enhanced by growing culinary herbs. Cooking with herbs is fun and adds just the right spice to any old ho-hum dish.