High on aroma and full of flavour, herbs are truly a chef's delight in preparing meals to please all kinds of palates.
"The success of cooking a good meal depends on the flavouring and seasoning, and mixing the right herb with the right food is what makes a chef great.
1. Basil
Basil, a popular herb with a mild and sweet flavour that has a name which means 'king' in Greek language. And it is rightly called so because many culinary experts consider it a royal herb. Used primarily for its aroma, basil is used a lot in Indian as well as international cuisines. While freshly plucked basil adds much needed fragrance to the dish, dried basil leaves mostly contribute to the taste.
Types of Basil
Sweet Basil: One of the most common varieties of basil that is used in tomato based dishes and Italian cuisine.
Lemon Basil: Found mostly in Asia and north-eastern Africa and is used predominantly in Thai cuisine.
Thai Basil: Identified with its purple stem and flowery green leaves, Thai basil has a mint-like flavour.
Holy Basil: Also known as tulsi, Holy basil is grown in most Indian homes and has many medicinal qualities.
Health benefits of Basil
- Helps control blood pressure
- Ensures oxygen carrying capacity in blood
- Rich source of powerful antioxidants
Popular Basil dishes: Pesto, Basil tea, Tomato Basil soup, Basil pasta salad, fruit salads and Margarita pizza.
2. Parsley
Yet another herb that derives its name from Greek language, Parsley is mostly used for garnishing than flavouring. Dark green in colour with stubby stems, when sprinkled over dishes minutes before serving, the aromatic herb plays its role in tempting the taste buds. While its fresh scent accentuates the flavour and of any dish, dried parsley has little or no fragrance at all.
Types of Parsley
Curly leaf Parsley: Less fragrant and bitter in taste, it is a popular garnishing ingredient for soups and salads.
Italian or flat leaf Parsley: Very flavoursome and is used during cooking the dish as it retains its flavour till the end.
Health benefits of Parsley
- Its fresh fragrance acts as a brilliant mouth freshener and helps you get rid of bad breath caused by onion and garlic.
- Aids in digestion and boosts immunity against infections and common cold
- Good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C
- Helps improve delayed menstrual cycles
Popular Parsley dishes: Mashed, buttered Parsley potatoes, meat and vegetable soup with Parsley garnishing, Parsley pesto, and grilled trout with lemon.
3. Thyme
Thyme releases its strong, pungent flavour very slowly and hence is mostly added to the recipe along with all the other ingredients. The herb is widely used in dishes that involve tossing, sauteing and stewing such as scrambled eggs, salads and soups. Both fresh and dried forms of the herb are popular ingredients for a wide variety of dishes across multiple cuisines. Thyme also contributes greatly to meat and vegetable preparations and is a significant element for marinades.
Types of Thyme
Thyme comes in as many as 60 varieties, however, there are three most popular kinds that are used extensively across Indian, Italian, French, Spanish, Greek, and even Turkish cuisine.
Garden Thyme: Most common type of Thyme and resembles Lemon Thyme in appearance and flavour.
Lemon Thyme: A more pronounced version of Garden Thyme with a strong lemony aroma, it works best with fish dishes.
Orange Thyme: Its orange peel flavour is an excellent flavouring for roasted meat and vegetables, chutneys and tea.
Health benefits of Thyme
- Thyme is antiseptic in nature and when boiled with water and tea, it helps treat throat infections and dry coughs.
- A very good source of fibre.
Popular Thyme dishes: Spiced Roast Salmon, Thyme and Garlic Chicken, Grilled Chicken Breasts with Lemon and Thyme, and Thyme Au Gratin Potatoes.
4. Rosemary
The firm, woody herb with fragrant, needle-like leaves is Rosemary. Bittersweet and lemony in taste, the aromatic herb is popularly used across dishes that involve stuffing or dressing. Besides that, it is also used as a flavouring agent for soups, meat dishes particularly lamb, vegetable platters, and fruit salads. Rosemary leaves are usually minced or crushed well before they're sprinkled on the foods or mixed with spices used for seasoning meats.
Health benefits of Rosemary
- Its soothing aroma is a great mood elevator
- A natural remedy for migraine
- Anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties in Rosemary help cure minor infections and build immunity.
Popular Rosemary dishes: Rosemary lamb shanks, Rosemary chicken with potatoes and Rosemary shortbread.
5. Sage
Sage in Latin means 'to save' and rightly so because besides being a shrubby culinary herb, it has several healing properties too. Not particularly dark green in colour, it is identified with long, circular leaves and a strong peppery flavour. A relatively flexible herb, sage is used in all three forms - fresh, dry and preserved. In fact, freshly plucked sage is soaked in olive oil and preserved in refrigerator to be used for almost two months. That ways, both the leaves and the oil infusion can be used in salad dressings or sauteing purposes. Sage plays the role of a seasoning ingredient for fatty meats such as poultry and pork, which is during the early phase of cooking. This is mainly because it helps in digestion and ensures a toned flavour. Besides this it also compliments stuffed foods such as risotto, tomato sauces, potatoes and beans.
Health benefits of Sage
- Aids in digestion
- Highly recommended to treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatic arthritis and bronchial asthma
Popular Sage dishes: Sage and onion stuffing, Sage mashed potatoes, Onion Sage fish sauce, grilled red onion salad with cheese and Sage.
6. Mint
Mint is one of the most commonly used and grown ingredients across the world. It is a fresh, flavoursome, lush green herb that comes with a long shelf life so it can be stored in airtight bags for months. Menthol, its core ingredient gives it the characteristic aroma and flavour. The most flexible flavouring agents among all herbs, mint leaves are used from the beginning of the meal until the very end - appetizers, main course, desserts and beverages! So you can add them to soups, salads, lemonades, cocktails, candies, chocolates, teas and more. Not to mention, as a garnish it is by far the prettiest of the lot too.
Health benefits of Mint
- It is a soothing agent and is used to cure stomach aches
- Mint tea helps eliminate toxins and reduces irregular bowel syndrome
- Chewing mint leaves whitens teeth and combats bad breath
Popular Mint dishes: Mint chutney, Peppermint Meringues and Mint Pesto. Among drinks and desserts, Mojito, Chocolate Mint Mousse and Mint Julep Cream Pie are most popular.
Credit for indiatimes.co.in
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