Fresh living herbs can transform a good dish into an amazing one. They can add an incredible rich aroma, more flavour and that something special, which can elevate your dish to the next level.
By all means, I am not suggesting ditching dry herbs all together but having a fresh living herb garden is really something every cook should think about… yes, I know that not everyone has a garden or space for it but let’s be honest how much space do herbs really need? All that is required is some free window sill space, a few pots and some soil… and if this is still way too much hassle for you, why don’t you look into a complete herb set which can be planted in the box it came in.
We love fresh herbs and there is always something green growing on my kitchen window sill. A few basil leaves added into a simple tomato sauce can make all the difference… or a few mint leaves chopped and mix with your potato salad… sometimes fresh herbs is all you need to create a culinary masterpiece.
If you are new to fresh herbs I’ve put together a simple guide as to which herbs go well with what.
Basil pairs well with: tomatoes, garlic, fruit, peas, aubergines, green salad, squash, eggs, cheese, potatoes, pasta
Bay leaf pairs well with: all kind of soups and stews, sauces and marinades which need to rest for a while
Coriander pairs well with: curry, BBQ, garlic, lemon, green salad
Dill pairs well with: fish, potatoes, fish, beets, pickles, lemon
Marjoram pairs well with: cheese, eggs, basil, garlic, corn, meat
Mint pairs well with: jellies, fruit juices, candies, frosting, cakes, pies, pork, potatoes, peas and chocolate
Oregano pairs well with: tomato, pasta sauces, basil, onion
Parsley pairs well with: all kind of soups and stews, green salad, eggs, cheese
Rosemary pairs well with: lamb, pork, chicken, carrot, potatoes, garlic and tomato
Thyme pairs well with: soups, pasta sauces, potato, rice, tomato, potatoes
The list goes on and on, the more you learn the more there is to discover, it is a journey and one I implore you to start if you have even the slightest inclination in the kitchen.
If you like my herb pairing you might want to check the full flavour profiles post.
Do you use fresh living herbs in your cooking?
What is your all-time favourite use of fresh herbs?
*Post written for Spalding Bulb blogger herb challenge.
currently I love fresh basil with tomatoes and mozzarella :o) do you have any idea for lemon balm? I never used it, I nearly have a lemon balm forest in my garden :o)
This is such a great resource for people like me who dabble in these things. I think fresh herbs make a lot of difference to cooking, and I love your list. It will help me out a lot
Well you learn something new everyday….I knew Basil went with tomato and that’s about it. Very interesting to read!
This has come at the perfect time for me. I love oregano and basil but tend to use them a lot. I recently bought some dill, bay leaves and lemon thyme so I can start to make some new recipes. Very useful, I’m saving this. Thanks.
Thanks for this, I’m bookmarking it! I want to start a herb garden 🙂 x
Great post my favourite use of fresh herbs is in fresh pesto 🙂 k x