Herb Guide to Cooking

Many of us have started an herb garden in the hopes of at least harvesting one ingredient! In my post on how to start an Edible Garden, I outline the best herbs, vegetables and fruits for gardeners to plant.  In this post, I’ll share some tools, tips and an herb guide to cooking. I hope to inspire each of you to begin with what I consider the beginner’s garden – the herb garden!

Herb Gardening Tools

• If you still need help beginning your herb garden, I highly recommend purchasing something like this Herb Garden Starter Kit:

• After you’ve planted, tendered, watered and loved your herbs you will soon be ready to clip them and enjoy them. If you don’t already have, you’ll want to purchase Pruning Scissors like these:
  
  Carefully snip your herbs from the top of the plant, rather than the bottom. Be sure to harvest regularly to encourage growth.
• Next wrap the herbs in either a wet paper towel and keep them in the fridge or use an Herb Keeper like this one:

Specific Recipes Using Fresh Herbs

• Caprese Pasta Salad: This is a great way to use the fresh basil from your garden. Similar to a caprese salad we see at an italian restaurant, this salad adds pasta to the dish.
• Salmon with Balsamic Vanilla Marinade: Although the recipe calls for dried basil and parsley, the flavor will be greater with fresh herbs instead. According to Martha Stewart, “Because dried herbs are generally more potent and concentrated than fresh herbs, you’ll need less — typically three times the amount of fresh herbs as dry. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, you need only 1 teaspoon of dried, since 3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon.”
• Watermelon Salad with Mint and Feta: One of my absolute favorites! It is such a refreshing salad to have on the side. Use your fresh mint from your garden in this one.
• Baked Potato Bar: Cut some chives from your herb garden and add it to your baked potato bar. This is a family favorite!
• Sliced Summer Fruits with Mango Puree: My mouth waters just thinking about this recipe. Purchase fresh fruit from the farmer’s market and grab some mint from your herb garden and you’ll be enjoying this treat in no time.

Cooking with Herbs Guide

Now you are ready to use them in your cooking! Check our this herb guide for cooking to inspire you in your meal planning with your own homegrown (or store bought if necessary) herbs!

Herbs are often grown in backyard garden or even in indoor windowsills.  Use this Herb Guide to Cooking to help you actually use the herbs you’re growing in the garden this year!

Herb Guide To Cooking

[Infographic] by the team at heitonbuckley