Culinary herbs are herbaceous (leafy) plants that add flavour and colour to all types of meals. The seeds,
flowers, leaves or roots may be used. If you find that low-fat or low-salt foods taste bland, herbs can be used to enhance the flavour of any dish, including desserts.
Generally, herbs are delicately flavoured, so add them to your cooking in the last few minutes. It helps to taste test. If not enough herbs are added, then little difference will be made to the flavour of the dish, whereas if too many herbs are added, their flavour will overpower other ingredients.
Health benefits of herbs
Consuming herbs may help to prevent and manage heart disease, cancer and diabetes. While more research is needed to confirm their medicinal and health benefits, some initial studies have shown that:
Garlic, linseed, fenugreek and lemongrass may help lower cholesterol. Garlic is useful for people with mildly elevated blood pressure.
Herbs such as fenugreek, linseed, flaxseed and cinnamon can help control blood sugar and insulin activity.
Garlic, onions, chives, leeks, mint, basil, oregano, sage and many other herbs can help protect against cancer.
Herbs are rich in antioxidants, especially cloves, cinnamon, sage, oregano and thyme, by helping to reduce low-density lipoproteins (‘bad’ cholesterol).
Fresh herbs often contain higher antioxidant levels compared to processed or dried herbs. They can also help to reduce blood clots and can provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties.
Cooking with herbs
Herbs can be added to virtually any recipe, including: soups , breads, mustards, marinades, butters, sauces, salad dressings, stocks, vinegars, vinaigrettes, desserts, drinks.
Good herb and food combinations
Try adding herbs to foods, for example:
basil – pesto, tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato juice, potato dishes, prawns, meat, chicken and poultry, pasta, rice, egg dishes
bay – soups, stews, casseroles, meat and poultry marinades, stocks
chilli – meat, chicken and poultry, shellfish, tomato dishes, curries
chives – salads, chicken, soups, cheese dishes, egg dishes, mayonnaise, vinaigrettes
coriander – Asian dishes, stir fries, curries, soups, salads, seafood, guacamole
dill – salads, sauces, fish, sour cream, cheese and potato dishes
fennel – stuffings, sauces, seafood
garlic – soups, sauces, pasta, meat, chicken, shellfish, pesto, salad dressings, bread
ginger – cakes, biscuits, Asian dishes
lemongrass – Asian dishes, stir fries, curries, seafood, soups, tea
marjoram – meat, fish, egg dishes, cheese dishes, pizza
mint – drinks, confectionery, meat, chicken, yoghurt, desserts, sauces, vegetable dishes
oregano – cheese dishes, egg dishes, tomato sauce, pizza, meat, stuffing, bread, pasta
parsley – pesto, egg dishes, pasta, rice dishes, salads, butter, sauces, seafood, vegetable dishes
rosemary – fish, poultry, meat, bread, sauces, soups
sage – stuffings, tomato dishes, cheese dishes
tarragon – salad dressing, egg dishes
thyme – chowders, bread, chicken and poultry, soups, stock, stews, stuffings, butter, cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar.
Tips for cooking with herbs
Suggestions for cooking with herbs include:
Dried herbs are more strongly flavoured than fresh. As a general rule, one teaspoon of dried herbs equals four teaspoons of fresh.
If you regularly use herbs, tie chopped and mixed herbs in little muslin bags (called bouquet garni) to add flavour to your cooking.
Some herbs, like rosemary and parsley, retain their flavour during the cooking process and can be added at the start.
The flavour of herbs fades with time, so discard dried herbs after 12 months.
Dried whole herbs, where the leaves are still attached to their stalk, tend to have a stronger flavour than loose leaves sold in packets or jars.
Herb combinations
Try two or more herb combinations (perhaps when preparing your bouquet garni sachets), such as:
basil – with chives, chilli, garlic, oregano
bay – with parsley, thyme, garlic, oregano, marjoram
chilli – with coriander, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, mint, oregano
chives – with basil, garlic, tarragon
dill – with chives, garlic, parsley, tarragon
garlic – with basil, rosemary, sage, fennel, chilli, coriander
oregano – with basil, parsley, chives, thyme, bay, chilli
sage – with rosemary, garlic, marjoram
thyme – with bay, parsley, garlic, rosemary.
Be adventurous with herbs
Herbs can be used in lots of different ways. If a recipe calls for herbs you do not have, use a combination of others. The more you use herbs, the more adventurous you will become.
Things to remember
Culinary herbs are herbaceous plants that add flavour and colour to all types of meals.
If you find that low-fat or low-salt foods taste bland, use herbs to enhance the flavour of virtually any dish, including desserts.
Fresh herbs are generally delicately flavoured, so add them to your cooking in the last few minutes.
Generally, herbs are delicately flavoured, so add them to your cooking in the last few minutes. It helps to taste test. If not enough herbs are added, then little difference will be made to the flavour of the dish, whereas if too many herbs are added, their flavour will overpower other ingredients.
Consuming herbs may help to prevent and manage heart disease, cancer and diabetes. While more research is needed to confirm their medicinal and health benefits, some initial studies have shown that:
Garlic, linseed, fenugreek and lemongrass may help lower cholesterol. Garlic is useful for people with mildly elevated blood pressure.
Herbs such as fenugreek, linseed, flaxseed and cinnamon can help control blood sugar and insulin activity.
Garlic, onions, chives, leeks, mint, basil, oregano, sage and many other herbs can help protect against cancer.
Herbs are rich in antioxidants, especially cloves, cinnamon, sage, oregano and thyme, by helping to reduce low-density lipoproteins (‘bad’ cholesterol).
Fresh herbs often contain higher antioxidant levels compared to processed or dried herbs. They can also help to reduce blood clots and can provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties.
Cooking with herbs
Herbs can be added to virtually any recipe, including: soups , breads, mustards, marinades, butters, sauces, salad dressings, stocks, vinegars, vinaigrettes, desserts, drinks.
Good herb and food combinations
Try adding herbs to foods, for example:
basil – pesto, tomato sauce, tomato soup, tomato juice, potato dishes, prawns, meat, chicken and poultry, pasta, rice, egg dishes
 |
| Basil |
 |
| Bay Leaf |
 |
| Chilli |
 |
| Chives |
 |
| coriander |
 |
| Dill |
 |
| Fennel |
 |
| Garlic |
 |
| Ginger |
 |
| Lemongrass |
 |
| Marjoram |
 |
| Mint |
 |
| Oregano |
 |
| Parsley |
 |
| Rosemary |
 |
| Sage |
 |
| Tarragon |
 |
| Thyme |
Tips for cooking with herbsSuggestions for cooking with herbs include:
Dried herbs are more strongly flavoured than fresh. As a general rule, one teaspoon of dried herbs equals four teaspoons of fresh.
If you regularly use herbs, tie chopped and mixed herbs in little muslin bags (called bouquet garni) to add flavour to your cooking.
Some herbs, like rosemary and parsley, retain their flavour during the cooking process and can be added at the start.
The flavour of herbs fades with time, so discard dried herbs after 12 months.
Dried whole herbs, where the leaves are still attached to their stalk, tend to have a stronger flavour than loose leaves sold in packets or jars.
Herb combinations
Try two or more herb combinations (perhaps when preparing your bouquet garni sachets), such as:
basil – with chives, chilli, garlic, oregano
bay – with parsley, thyme, garlic, oregano, marjoram
chilli – with coriander, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, mint, oregano
chives – with basil, garlic, tarragon
dill – with chives, garlic, parsley, tarragon
garlic – with basil, rosemary, sage, fennel, chilli, coriander
oregano – with basil, parsley, chives, thyme, bay, chilli
sage – with rosemary, garlic, marjoram
thyme – with bay, parsley, garlic, rosemary.
Be adventurous with herbs
Herbs can be used in lots of different ways. If a recipe calls for herbs you do not have, use a combination of others. The more you use herbs, the more adventurous you will become.
Things to remember
Culinary herbs are herbaceous plants that add flavour and colour to all types of meals.
If you find that low-fat or low-salt foods taste bland, use herbs to enhance the flavour of virtually any dish, including desserts.
Fresh herbs are generally delicately flavoured, so add them to your cooking in the last few minutes.