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The Complete Herb Buying Guide – Where And How To Buy Your Herbs
Any guide to herbs will begin with a simple definition. Herbs are
plants that do not produce woody stems.
Depending on the given herb,
the leaves, stems, roots, or flowers may be used or in some instances
all are edible. In general, it is recommended that you buy fresh herbs
for use in your recipes or as natural medicinal agents.
Spices tend to be extracted or ground from the bark, seeds, fruit,
roots or stems of such plants. The names of many herbs like basil
and chives are commonly known and their use is generally understood.
However, there is a vast range of such plants that are suitable for
consumption or for use as natural remedies and preventatives.
Where do I Start?
If you are purchasing herbs for use in the kitchen you will need those
items most called for in the recipes you use or in the cuisine you
are trying to prepare. If you are interested in herbal medicinal products,
the given medical condition you are attempting to improve or cure
will dictate your choice of herbs. There are, however, some herbal
seasonings that are considered kitchen staples.
HOW DO I
STOCK A BASIC SELECTION OF HERBS AND SPICES?
Although there are many herbs and spices available for use, all cooks
agree that a basic selection is an absolute necessity in any kitchen.
These include basil, bay, caraway seeds, celery seeds, cinnamon, cloves,
cumin, dill, ginger, marjoram, nutmeg (or mace), oregano, paprika,
salt, pepper, mustard, chili powder, thyme, and fennel.
Essentially you are looking for a good range of spices and herbs to
complement an equal range of foods. Basil works well with tomatoes,
pesto and salads. Caraway seeds are used in breads and with cabbage,
carrots, and potatoes.
Celery seeds are useful in salads and on tomatoes. Cinnamon is for
baked goods, fruits, and various beverages both hot and cold. Cloves
are for baking and to season hearty meats. Cumin is essential for
Mexican dishes, especially beans.
Dill is essential for salad dressings, salads, and deviled eggs. Ginger
is necessary for Asian dishes and is often used in baking. Marjoram
is required in Italian dishes and to season meats and vegetables.
Nutmeg is used in baked goods and with various dairy products.
Italian dishes call for oregano which is also a useful meat seasoning.
Paprika is required by many Mexican dishes and is nice with potatoes
and meats. Salt and pepper are, of course, so basic as to require
no explanation beyond a caution that excessive use of salt does lead
to high blood pressure.
Mustard is a good seasoning for fish, cheese, and meats and is often
called for in sauces. Chili powder is a good, all purpose “hot
spice” while thyme works well in soups and stews. Fennel is
especially good in sausage and with fish.
Although you can find plentiful online descriptions of how given herbs
taste, the best way to experience a spice or herb is to sample it
for yourself. You’ll have little trouble deciding what you do
and don’t like. Consult online cooking sites or herbal encyclopedias
to learn how to substitute given herbs in recipes to successfully
avoid those items for which you do not care while still achieving
the desired result with the dish in question.
ARE HERBS GOOD
FOR MY HEALTH?
Many herbs do have medicinal properties. Basil, for instance, has
long been used as a nerve tonic and memory enhancer. Licorice is a
natural laxative. Chives can help to lower blood pressure and reduce
cholesterol buildup. Marjoram will also lower blood pressure and will
ease respiratory problems and sooth gastric distress.
With any plant it is possible to have an allergic reaction. For instance
people who have hay fever sometimes have an adverse reaction to alfalfa
which has long been used in the Appalachian Mountains as a folk remedy
for arthritis. Other herbs, like garlic, are so strong they may cause
heartburn and stomach upset.
If you plan to raise and to use herbs extensively in your cooking
or if you are interested in learning more about the use of herbs as
natural curatives and preventatives, it would be a good idea to either
conduct online research or to invest in a good, printed, herbal encyclopedia.
You always want to understand the properties and potential side effects
of any item you are using in your recipes or to enhance your health.
Continue to : Does it Matter if I Use Fresh or Dry Herbs
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