Fresh Herbs Spice up Cold Weather Cooking

Fresh vegetarian pasta (Source: Wikipedia)

Ever wonder why restaurant or catered food tastes so good? In part, it’s because professional chefs know that fresh herbs help to elevate a dish from good to great.

During the winter season, consumers often don’t have access to the flavorful produce of summer months. Herbs are a great way to add flavor and variety to lackluster meals.

And fresh herbs can spice up cold weather cooking for you, right now.

Cultivating an Herb Garden

Herb Garden (Source: Wikipedia)

For many Americans, fresh herbs are only purchased for special occasions or when a new recipe demands them. That’s because buying herbs from the grocery store or farmer’s market can be expensive.

One way to put money back in your wallet is to start a small herb garden. Many herbs grow year-round, so you can start right now.

Even apartment-dwellers with a sunny window can grow enough herbs to spice up their meals. Small planter boxes with organic potting soil and organic fertilizer are all you need. To get a jumpstart on growing herbs, buy small plants instead of seed packets.

A Short List of Good Herbs

It’s really hard to choose just a few. There are so many great herbs available. Here’s a short list you might enjoy. Some are more available than others for cold weather cooking. Don’t feel limited – there are many other fresh herbs available to spice up your cuisine!

Basil: An Italian staple. Try making fresh pesto or steeping the leaves in olive oil with other herbs to make an oil infusion

Chives: Delicate onion flavor that’s great in omelets and baked potatoes

Cilantro: Wonderful paired with seafood, coconut-based dishes or cold pasta, olive oil and tomatoes.

Dill: Amazing when paired with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Shines in Greek tzatziki.

Mint: Excellent with roast lamb, or muddled in a mixed drink

Parsley: A mild herb that’s great as a garnish with most savory dishes.

Rosemary: A stunning addition to fresh baked bread, and the woody stalks can be used as skewers for grilled shrimp or chicken

Sage: Try crisping sage leaves in butter. Pair sage with butternut squash, pork or turkey.

Herb Storage

When you do purchase or harvest fresh herbs, it’s important to carefully care for them to keep them fresh. The best way to store herbs like parsley, cilantro or basil is to treat them like fresh cut flowers.

When you bring herbs home, snip off the bottom of the stems and place them in a jar or glass of fresh water. Change the water if it starts to discolor. Don’t wash the herbs until you are just ready to use them, to prevent molding. Cilantro should be stored in the fridge but basil should be kept at room temperature for best results. If you are storing herbs in your refrigerator, be sure to cover with a plastic bag.

We hope these tips inspire you. Let us know in the comments if you’ve used fresh herbs to spice up cold weather cooking. Until next time…Savoryandsweet.com.