Finding the Right Herb for Recipe Friday
I don’t have a recipe for today. Instead, I want to share some information about selecting herbs and spices from an old cookbook I have titled How to Cook with Herbs, Spices & Flavorings by Doris Townsend. I don’t know if I’ve ever actually made one of the recipes in this cookbook, but there is a chart in the front that tells what herbs and spices go best with various foods that I refer to a lot.
This chart includes columns for appetizers, soups and chowders, salads, fish and shellfish, poultry and game, meats, sauces, eggs and cheese, and vegetables. My favorite, and most used, column is the vegetable column. This is the one I want to share today.
I hope this information helps you in your side-dish cooking as much as it helps me.
Basil
Beans
Eggplant
Onions
Peas
Squash
Tomatoes
Bay Leaf
Beets
Carrots
Potatoes
Stewed Tomatoes
Chervil
Beets
Eggplant
Peas
Potatoes
Spinach
Tomatoes
Dillweed
Beans
Beets
Cabbage
Celery
Parsnips
Potatoes
Marjoram
Brussels sprouts
Carrots
Onions
Peas
Spinach
Zucchini
Oregano
Broccoli
Cabbage
Lentils
Mushrooms
Onions
Tomatoes
Parsley
Carrots
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Peppermint
Carrots
Peas
Potatoes
Spinach
Zucchini
Rosemary
Cauliflower
Cucumbers
Mushrooms
Peas
Potatoes
Spinach
Saffron
Vegetables & rice
Squash
Zucchini
Sage
Carrots
Eggplant
Lima beans
Onions
Peas
Tomatoes
Savory
Artichokes
Asparagus
Beans
Lentils
Rice
Sauerkraut
Tarragon
Cauliflower
Celery root
Mushrooms
Potatoes
Spinach
Tomatoes
Thyme
Asparagus
Beans
Beets
Carrots
Onions
Zucchini
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I have a similarly helpful book: Herb Cookery, by Alan Hooker.
Astounding. Who knew? : )
Well, now you do! 😉
Believe it or not, I love to cook. Well, it’s more like I love to make things up when I want to have something unusual or out of the ordinary. Most of the time my sense of taste is a hit, but every once in a while, well…
That being said, I was unaware of not only some of the spices on your list, but with what to use them. Now you have me curious. Chicken is about to find another friend!
I am not at all surprised that you like to cook! You strike me as a very well-rounded individual. Hope the family likes whatever friend your chicken finds. 🙂 Peace, Linda
This is a very helpful list! I’m always checking the backs of the little bottles to see which herbs go with what foods.
And I had no idea peppermint was good for anything other than making tea or flavoring desserts or tabbouleh.
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Heather, I’m glad you found this helpful. My veggies would be pretty boring without this chart, that’s for sure. Peace, Linda
Thank you, Linda
This is stepping waaay out into new waters for me. 🙂
My friend has been trying to convince me to use more fresh herbs and seasonings. I have been pushing back, limiting my use to garlic, thyme, escallion, tomatoes… ciilantro? Terragon? Nope …
( Weird thing is, I do have a lovely summertime herb garden. I am happy to grow and share with friends but I don’t like cooking with them. I think this pot is going to be a big, big help! I may venture yet.)
I think I just felt a firm, but gentle push from you. lol I’m with Deb, …I’d like to add this to my collection.
Blessings,
ann
Blessings,
ann
Ann, I don’t use fresh herbs very often, except sometimes basil. I usually use dried herbs and have a full spice cupboard full of wonderful flavors. As I was preparing this post, though, I realized I don’t have any chervil. I’m not even sure that is, though I bet my cookbook would tell me if I looked. 😉 Happy cooking and spicing! Peace, Linda
Wow . . .that is a great help for someone like me who is cooking and spice challenged. I always wondered how people know what goes good with what and how to add something to spice a dish up and make it taste better. 🙂 I’m printing this off. Thank you for sharing and helping and blessing!
Deb, If you ever have a question about another type of food – like a meat or poultry – and wonder what would go good to spice it up, feel free to email me and I’ll look it up. 🙂 Peace, Linda
Thank you sweet friend and kitchen angel! 🙂