Fresh Herbs, What Should I Do with Them?

Updated on April 27, 2012
M.L. asks from Derby, KS
7 answers

I have oregano, rosemary and thyme that I planted last year and they came back this year. I planted one basil, one cilantro and one chives plant. I've planted four basil plants in past years and they thrive but I never used them. I have rarely used the other herbs but I would like to start. How do you use your fresh herbs? Recipes with suggestions would be great!

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I love to stuff fresh herbs and citrus fruits (lemon, lime, orange slices mostly) into birds - game hens, turkey, chicken. I like to shove them between the skin and meat with extra virgin olive oil, citrus slices and the herbs then in the center where stuffing may typically go as well and remove everything at serving time MMMMM good stuff!

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T.K.

answers from Dallas on

My favorite thing to do with clinatro is pico de gallo. I make it twice a week!

My favorite thing with basil is tomato and mozzarella. If you put that on a pizza, it's an authentic Pizza Margerita - colors of the Italian flag

I like to slive a tomato thick, layer with a basil leaf, top with a slice of fresh mozz. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Makes a beautiful fresh alternative to a salad with dinner.
For an appetizer you can get cherry tomatoes, wrap a basil leaf around it, secure with a toothpick and stick toothpick into a small round of mozz.
Basil is the key ingrediant in Pesto. Pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, basil leaves in a food processor.
Basil is also used in alot of Thai cooking. Pho noodle houses put fresh basil leaves ontop of noodle soup.
Rosemary was made to go with poultry. ALso great on roasted vegetables.

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K.F.

answers from Salinas on

I use fresh basil and cilantro almost every week. Basil in pasta, pizza salad dressings, sauces, marinades and on garlic bread. A good starting point is anything you put fresh garlic in basil would be good too.

Cilantro is great in homemade salsa, gaucamole, sprinkled on any mexican dish, it's great in sauces for fish too. I make fish tacos with a sauce made of light sour cream, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper and a dash of hot sauce that's delicious. It's also good in cilanto rice.

Fresh herbs are less intense than dried so you use more than you would if they came out of a jar. They are also really good for you, they do not have the chemicals that virtually all dried spices contain and just like fresh veggies are loaded with antioxidents and vitamins, good stuff.

Another good one to grow is dill, it has a fresh taste that goes with lots of different foods. I put it in my potato salad, tuna, marinades etc. Rosemary is good on roasted potatoes and while we dont eat meat much it is included in lots of recipes for chicken, turkey and lamb.

Google some recipes and try them out, nothing better than growing your own food!

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H.M.

answers from Columbia on

I have to say, I'm soooo jealous! Fresh herbs are so wonderful and so expensive at the grocery store. You have so much potential sitting there in those little pots! You should go grab the Ellie Krieger cookbook, Foods You Crave http://www.amazon.com/The-Food-You-Crave-Luscious/dp/1600.... She has a lot of recipes in there that use fresh herbs. I find myself buying basil, cilantro and mint all the time. You know what? You've inspired me. I'm going to plant some pots. (though, I have what's called a "black thumb"...I'm deadly to plants.)

You can also freeze your herbs, but I'm not very well versed in that since I blow through the ones I get. You might want to google that and see how you do it so you can use them throughout the winter on soups and stews.

Enjoy the spring!
Hilary

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J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Okay I have to ask why do you have them if you don't use them?

Oregano and basil are great in pasta sauces. Rosemary and thyme chicken, fish.

My youngest will tell you that you just eat them. She grazes on them to the point I don't have them when I need them. :(

Oh chives are great in potatoes mashed or baked.

Cilantro in everything mexican. Heck I chop some up and add it to salsa from the store.

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I use fresh basil in tomato sauce. (Also oregano)You can also make pesto if you have a ton of basil.
Chives? Top baked potatoes, potato casserole...

Also, you can wash, dry and freeze herbs in ziplock baggies. I freeze basil all the time.

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Cut them with stems long enough to tie them with a string and hang them to dry. You can use them as you would any dried herb. Though fresh herbs have more flavor and can be used as you would dried herbs, just use less.

Look up other uses. Fresh herbs can be used in bath salts, for healing and tons of other things.

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