"Cooking With The Kitchen Diva!"

How to use Herbs, What Herbs go Well With What Foods?

It occured to me as I was sitting here making dinner ... how great herbs smell as they are cooking. I am using tarragon on my chicken tonight. Actually, chicken and tarragon are a match made in heaven! I wondered then ... how many people are unaware? How many people would use herbs if only they knew what to use and on what!

Let's face it, chicken on it's own is really rather bland. Actually, turkey and pork are rather bland as well. Hummm... beef is bland with out the addition of a spice or herb. Now that I think about it, how many women have failed the "good cook" award simply because they don't know how to spice or herb up good food.

Cooking with herbs and spices can be a daunting experience! It can be a nightmare trying to figure out which spice or herb goes with what kind of food. Trial and error can be a costly venture when you put too much of anything anywhere. Fish and meat are like a blank canvas... they will totally take on the flavor of the herb you are using, so too much of it can send your awesome dish right into the trash can in a hurry.

Most recipes will tell you how much of an herb or spice to put into a dish when you are making it. If you want to experiment with the herbs and spices on your own, a good rule of thumb would be to start out with 1/4 teaspoon of any dried herb to a small batch but here is where you are going to have to do it "to taste". Always keep in mind that dried herbs and spices are stronger than the fresh so start out with a little and gradually work the amount up to where it tastes good to you. I hope this blog helps you to decide what herb to use with what food. Have some fun and let's get cooking in the kitchen!

If you are growing herbs at home, there are a few things you can do with them at the end of the season. You can de-stem them and chop them up. You can either fill an ice cube tray with chopped herbs in each compartment and add either oil or water and freeze them. When you need some herbs, simply drop one of the cubes into what you are cooking. If you need them for a dip or dressing, defrost the cube, drain, pat dry and add to your dip or dressing. You can also tie the fresh herbs at the bottom of the stems and hang them to dry and you will have dried herbs when needed.

Herbs that go well with Beef.

• Basil
  

• Bay leaf

Caraway

Cumin

Garlic

Ginger

Marjoram

Onion

Oregano

Parsley

Sage

Savory

Tarragon

Thyme

 

Herbs that go well with Fish

• Anise
• Basil
• Caraway
• Cayenne pepper
• Chervil
• Chives
• Dill
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Saffron
• Sage
• Savory
• Tarragon
• Thyme

 

Herbs that go well with Chicken

• Anise
• Basil
• Bay leaf
• Borage
• Chives
• Cinnamon
• Cumin
• Dill
• Fenugreek
• Garlic
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Onion
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Saffron
• Sage
• Savory
• Tarragon
• Thyme

 

Herbs that go well with Pork

• Anise
• Caraway
• Cardemom
• Dill
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Saffron
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Thyme

 

Herbs that go well with Lamb

• Basil
• Bay leaf
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Cumin
• Dill
• Garlic
• Lemon balm
• Mint
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Turkey

•  Basil
• Garlic
• Marjoram
• Onion
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Saffron
• Sage
• Savory
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Veal

• Basil
• Bay leaf
• Chervil
• Chives
• Ginger
• Marjoram
• Mint
• Onion
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Savory
• Thyme

Herbs that go with Broccoli

• Basil
• Dill
• Garlic
• Lemon balm
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Beans

 Dried beans:

• Cumin
• Garlic
• Mint
• Onions
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Sage
• Savory
• Thyme

Green beans:

• Basil
• Caraway
• Clove
• Dill
• Marjoram
• Mint
• Sage
• Savory
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Cabbage

•  Basil
• Caraway
• Cayenne pepper
• Cumin
• Dill
• Fennel
• Marjoram
• Sage
• Savory

Herbs that go well with Carrots

•  Anise
• Basil
• Chervil
• Chives
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Cumin
• Dill
• Ginger
• Marjoram
• Mint
• Parsley
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Cauliflower

•  Basil
• Caraway
• Chives
• Cumin
• Dill
• Garlic
• Marjoram
• Parsley
• Savory
• Tarragon

Herbs that go well with Corn

• Chervil
• Chives
• Lemon balm
• Saffron
• Sage
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Eggs

•  Anise
• Basil
• Caraway
• Cayenne pepper
• Chervil
• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Fennel
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Saffron
• Sage
• Savory
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Eggplant

•  Basil
• Cinnamon
• Dill
• Garlic
• Marjoram
• Mint
• Onion
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Saige
• Savory
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Fruit

•  Anise
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Ginger
• Lemon balm
• Mint
• Rosemary

Herbs that go well with Mushrooms

•  Coriander
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Parsnips

•  Basil
• Dill
• Marjoram
• Parsley
• Savory
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Rice

•  Basil
• Fennel
• Lovage
• Saffron
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Peas

• Caraway
• Chervil
• Chives
• Rosemary
• Savory
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Potatoes

•  Basil
• Caraway
• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Fennel
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Spinach

•  Anise
• Basil
• Caraway
• Chervil
• Chives
• Cinnamon
• Dill
• Rosemary
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Stuffing

•  Garlic
• Marjoram
• Onion
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Squash

•  Basil
• Caraway
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Ginger
• Marjoram
• Dill
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Herbs that go well with Tomatoes

•  Basil
• Bay leaf
• Chives
• Coriander
• Dill
• Garlic
• Lovage
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Thyme