Cooking With Fresh Herbs |
Don’t let your herbs go wild in the garden or get moldy in the refrigerator. There are lots of way to incorporate them into your recipes.
A general guideline for using fresh herbs in a recipe is to use 3 times as much as you would use dried herbs.
Wash herbs when you are ready to use them. Shake off moisture or spin dry in a salad spinner. Pat off any remaining moisture with clean paper towels.
For most recipes, unless otherwise directed, mince herbs into tiny pieces. Chop with a chef’s knife on a cutting board or snip with a kitchen scissors.
Unlike dried herbs, fresh herbs are usually added toward the end in cooked dishes to preserve their flavor.
Storing Herbs
Fresh herbs can be stored in an open or a perforated plastic bag in your refrigerator for a few days.
After washing, you can mince the herbs and place them halfway up in the sections of an ice-cube tray. Cover herbs with cold water and freeze until solid.
Transfer the frozen cubes to a freezer bag. Drop them into soups, stews and sauces as needed.
Some Other Ways To Use Herbs
If you love a big, green salad, add fresh herbs to the mix.
Add a big handful of fresh herbs to a basic mixture of equal parts sugar and water, bring to a boil, stir and then remove from the heat. Once completely cooled, strain out the herbs (discard) and use the simple syrup to sweeten iced coffee or tea and cocktails.
Fresh herbs are a perfect in salad dressings and vinaigrettes. They round out the fatty and sharp flavors from the oil and vinegar.
Combine finely chopped herbs and room-temperature butter to make a spread that compliments bread or cooked meat or vegetables.
Summer Squash Chowder
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 medium courgettes and 2 medium patty pan squash, diced
- 1 large sweet (Vidalia) onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 8 cups Summer Vegetable Stock (corn cob stock) (recipe here)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup fresh corn kernels
- Sour cream for garnish
Directions
Heat the butter in a large saucepan or stockpot; add the garlic, celery and onion. Saute for 5 minutes. Add the squash and lightly salt the vegetables. Saute for an additional 5 minutes.
Add the stock and 1 teaspoon salt, bring to a boil, reduce heat and partially cover and cook for 25 minutes. Puree the soup with a hand immersion blender until smooth.
Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Stir in lemon juice, corn and herbs. Simmer for 5 minutes. Serve in individual soup bowls topped with a tablespoon of sour cream.
Allow 12-15g of net carbs per serving.
Diabetes Diet 