I always had the habit of misusing my most prized herbs like cilantro, mint and basil. To ward off such possibilities I had to buy a tub of dry oregano. But Aliz Green knows how to keep them green and she has given useful tips to cooks like me who are in a habit of looking up for herbs to be surprised at their finding that their favorite herb has become black, rotten and messed up with the fresh leaves. There are a couple of tips to keep your herbs fresh and do the optimum utilization of nature’s resources in cooking.
From buying herbs to using them the author suggests careful handling of herbs. While buying the herbs you got to be selective about your choice. Be it a garnish or seasoning you must use field-grown herbs as they have a very good aroma and it also improves their flavor. One common mistake that we all do is to pluck the dry herbs out of the plastic bag using our wet hands; this moisture creates molds in the herb and destroys the leaves. When herbs are brought the rubber bands are removed from the stem, and the root ends are trimmed, after trimming they are wrapped in wet paper towels and kept in plastic bags, but for longer storage it is advisable to blanch the herbs and pat them dry and are best stored in dark colored glasses to keep away light and heat. It is advisable not to keep the herbs in plastic bags as plastic takes away their flavor.
Your usage of herbs depends on the effect that you want to create in the dish by its addition. But no matter when you add it clean and chop the amount required just before you are ready to use them in your dish. This method saves on the aroma of your herbs. As far as creating a punch through herbs is concerned it is always good to add the herbs at the beginning of cooking is that the herbs leave out the flavor gradually in the juices. The moist interesting thing about an herb is that most parts of the herbs like roots and stems is used to pair different kinds of food. Seasonal herbs make a wonderful impact on the food as they are tossed along with seasonal salads, greens and pasta.
A little care for herb creates wonder in your dishes and makes you cook with healthy seasonings.
