How to Make Ordinary Meals Extraordinary with Herbs and Spices

Some common and favorite herbs are basil, parsley, savory, thyme, rosemary, chervil, Tarragon, coriander, cumin, chili, caraway, dill, ginger, garlic, lemongrass and curry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. These are just a few of the many herbs used to alter the flavor and aroma of foods. Other flavoring agents are vinegars, marinades and oils, fruit zests and juices such as orange, lemon & lime.

Fresh herbs are becoming more available in local food markets and dried herbs have been available forever it seems. Salt, pepper onions and garlic have been favorite flavor enhancers over the ages, but with the popularity of gourmet cooking a variety of herbs and spices are now becoming more widely used. Here are some of the common herb combinations used with foods:

Meat & Herbs:

Use the following herbs with each type of meat...

Pork -Rosemary and Mint

Beef -Garlic, oregano and curry

Chicken -Thyme, Ginger, Curry

Lamb -Mint and Rosemary

Duck -Mint (with orange zest), Thyme (with apples)

Turkey -Basil, Thyme and Savory

Fish & Herbs

Salmon, Trout, Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, etc

Herbs that work well with Fish are; Dill, Lemongrass, Lemon & Lime juice

Vegetables & Herbs

Potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, beans, peas, asparagus, eggplant, beets, etc.

Herbs that are good with vegetables are; basil, parsley, thyme, coriander, cumin, and oregano

Fruit & Herbs

Apples, peaches, pears, melons, bananas, and berries

Herbs that work well with fruit are; mint, ginger, lemongrass, and rosemary

Oils & Vinegars

Popular herbs that work well in oils and vinegars are; thyme, oregano, coriander and rosemary

My all time favorite flavor enhancers along with herbs, are pressed garlic cloves, minced onions, course ground black pepper and a hint of salt. There are so many ways to alter the flavor goodness of foods using herbs. Don’t be afraid to experiment with herbs because it is so easy to add them to any dish.

Buying Herbs

Herbs and spices can be expensive to buy at the fresh food section of the supermarkets. Even the dried varieties are expensive if bought in the small prepackaged bottles. The least expensive way to stock up on herbs is to look for places where they sell in smaller quantities such as at bulk food stores. This way you can get more variety of herbs for the least amount of expense and you’ll be ready for any recipe.

Growing Fresh Herbs

You may even want to think about growing your own herbs at home. Having a fresh supply of herbs at home is a healthy and less expensive alternative to buying them. Herbs are best grown in container pots and as long as they have good indirect sunlight they can produce an endless amount of fresh herbs. Growing potted at home is fairly low maintenance as well. Once you start incorporating these herbs and spices in your favorite dinner recipes you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without them.

 How to Make Ordinary Meals Extraordinary with Herbs and Spices

Some common and favorite herbs are basil, parsley, savory, thyme, rosemary, chervil, Tarragon, coriander, cumin, chili, caraway, dill, ginger, garlic, lemongrass and curry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. These are just a few of the many herbs used to alter the flavor and aroma of foods. Other flavoring agents are vinegars, marinades and oils, fruit zests and juices such as orange, lemon & lime.

Fresh herbs are becoming more available in local food markets and dried herbs have been available forever it seems. Salt, pepper onions and garlic have been favorite flavor enhancers over the ages, but with the popularity of gourmet cooking a variety of herbs and spices are now becoming more widely used. Here are some of the common herb combinations used with foods:

Meat & Herbs:

Use the following herbs with each type of meat...

Pork -Rosemary and Mint

Beef -Garlic, oregano and curry

Chicken -Thyme, Ginger, Curry

Lamb -Mint and Rosemary

Duck -Mint (with orange zest), Thyme (with apples)

Turkey -Basil, Thyme and Savory

Fish & Herbs

Salmon, Trout, Tuna, Mahi-Mahi, etc

Herbs that work well with Fish are; Dill, Lemongrass, Lemon & Lime juice

Vegetables & Herbs

Potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, beans, peas, asparagus, eggplant, beets, etc.

Herbs that are good with vegetables are; basil, parsley, thyme, coriander, cumin, and oregano

Fruit & Herbs

Apples, peaches, pears, melons, bananas, and berries

Herbs that work well with fruit are; mint, ginger, lemongrass, and rosemary

Oils & Vinegars

Popular herbs that work well in oils and vinegars are; thyme, oregano, coriander and rosemary

My all time favorite flavor enhancers along with herbs, are pressed garlic cloves, minced onions, course ground black pepper and a hint of salt. There are so many ways to alter the flavor goodness of foods using herbs. Don’t be afraid to experiment with herbs because it is so easy to add them to any dish.

Buying Herbs

Herbs and spices can be expensive to buy at the fresh food section of the supermarkets. Even the dried varieties are expensive if bought in the small prepackaged bottles. The least expensive way to stock up on herbs is to look for places where they sell in smaller quantities such as at bulk food stores. This way you can get more variety of herbs for the least amount of expense and you’ll be ready for any recipe.

Growing Fresh Herbs

You may even want to think about growing your own herbs at home. Having a fresh supply of herbs at home is a healthy and less expensive alternative to buying them. Herbs are best grown in container pots and as long as they have good indirect sunlight they can produce an endless amount of fresh herbs. Growing potted at home is fairly low maintenance as well. Once you start incorporating these herbs and spices in your favorite dinner recipes you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without them.