Herbs for Cooking

Italian herbs for cooking are the most important ingredient for giving your food that wonderful flavor Italian food is known for.

Italian food includes a wide variety of herbs for cooking which not only add intense flavor but are healthy too. Its best to have your own herb garden, but grocery stores do carry some fresh herbs throughout the year. Store bought herbs are more expensive, which is one advantage of growing your own.

Herbs are the leaves and some stems of plants which contain aromatic oils giving them a distinctive flavor.

Spices generally come from the seeds, root, fruit or bark of plants where their aromatic oils are concentrated and are generally used dried. Spices usually have quite an intense flavor and aroma, therefore they are only needed in small quantities.

Spices used in Italian cooking...

Here is a list of the more common varieties of herbs and how they are used:

Basil is actually part of the mint family with twelve varieties used in cooking. It works great in pesto, tomato sauces and soups. Sweet basil is the best known and has a distinct fragrance. It has a sweet and slight licorice taste which makes it great for pesto. I grow an abundant amount of this basil in the summer, along with the Genovese variety. It has a bigger, darker leave and a strong flavor without the licorice. Basil is the main ingredient in traditional pesto.

Marjoram is also in the mint family and is very similar to oregano. I often prefer my freshly grown marjoram to oregano because it is much more fragrant and sweeter. You can use it in any recipe that calls for oregano if you like. Very common herb for meats and sauces.

Mint - Everyone is familiar with mint in drinks and desserts, but did you know it can add a great flavor to pasta sauces as well as fish, lamb and soups? Experiment with the many varieties and try a mint pesto.

Oregano, also known as wild marjoram, is used widely in Italian cooking. Oregano offers a complementary flavor to basil, and is widely used in tomato-based dishes, with meat or fish, and in salads. It also tastes wonderful with beans or eggplant, and in risotto.

Parsley - Flat-leaf Italian parsley is much more flavorful than the curly variety used for garnishes. Italian parsley is used in soup stock and with vegetable dishes. It can also be added to marinades for grilled meat or fish.

Rosemary resembles a little evergreen tree and is extremely fragrant. A little goes a long way as it can easily overpower your food. This herb makes a wonderful addition to roasted meats and vegetables, and is extremely tasty with roasted potatoes or added to focaccia.

Sage is another very fragrant herb that is delicious with meat dishes. Sage is the star herb in Italian Saltimbocca, and can also be added to salads and dressings. It makes a perfect addition to stuffing for poultry, pork, veal, and lamb.

Thyme is also a member of the mint family and has a pleasant mild flavor that goes well with just about everything. It is also very easy to grow and I enjoy my fresh thyme all summer long.

Grow Your Own Herbs

Cooking with Herbs

ethnic-spicy-food-and-more.com-The website for easy spicy recipes using flavorful herbs and spices. Visit today!

Visit www.Pickles-and-Spices.com-to learn about other Spices used around the world.

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