A Culinary Herbs Guide
Posted: Friday, December 04, 2009
by Lisa Summerfield
http://herbgardensolutions.com
Nothing will add more flavor and depth to your cooking than freshly picked herbs. As you consider which herbs to pick for tonight's dinner, you should consider what you want these flavors to accomplish. Should they compliment the natural taste of your meat or produce? Should they overwhelm or mask the natural flavors? Should they be savory or sweet? A culinary herbs guide will be able to answer all these questions and more.
A culinary herbs guide would tell you that the kitchen pantry should be stocked with sage, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, oregano, parsley, tarragon and thyme since, used properly, these herbs bring out the smoky flavor in meats and give a tasty bite to tomato sauces.
Across the board, the best two herbs for meat rubs , according to a culinary herbs guide, are coriander and oregano since both of these herbs have a sharp aroma that infuses the meat after marinating. They work well with both red and white meat and even some heartier fish but if one is to cook a less oily river fish like trout, it is better to stick with rosemary and thyme as they won't overpower the natural fish flavors.
An herbs guide has to take into account a vegetarian diet. Vegetables flavors are enhanced by the sweet or pungent zest of culinary herbs. Garlic adds depth and spice to all dishes and can be used liberally although some people are concerned about garlic's overpowering smell on their breath, but if you decorate your dish with parsley, it adds zest and freshness as a garnish and also cleanses the breath after a meal.
There are some lighter flavored herbs that are also desirable in a culinary herbs guide for Western cooking. One of them is mint, which has multiple uses. Many people are familiar with the soothing qualities of mint tea, but the herb is also great in sauces and main dishes. Another one is anise which has a slightly sweet but zingy flavor and is employed in breads, cakes, candies, and drinks.
There are lesser known plants mentioned in a culinary herbs guide such as lemon balm and borage, so if you come across herbs that you aren't familiar with, let your nose be your guide. Sometimes, pairing a savory sage with some lighter rosemary will give dimensions to your chicken that you never thought possible. You can also go by the recipe book, but when it comes to choosing your culinary herbs guide, experimentation through smell and taste will only help your cooking skills in the long run.
Lisa Summerfield is the author of "Secrets To A Successful Home Herb Garden" - compulsory reading for anyone considering to grow a thriving herb garden. Her website is a fantastic herbs guide and contains valuable information on growing herbs at home... Even if you have never grown a garden before!
For a FREE 10 part mini-course on "The Secrets To Growing Delicious Herbs at Home!" go to http://herbgardensolutions.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Thank you for this article. I always like what you sendthanks Cecil, I'm glad you enjoyed! have a wonderful day!
Good info, Lisa, but I don't know that I would put out the effort for an herb garden - I am content with the packaged stuff. But, then, I don't enjoy cooking that much. I can see how fresh herbs would enhance a meal.
Hi Lorrie, it's not so much effort vs. results, it's more a passion. Herbs are powerful in their taste, flavor and have great medicinal value.
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