Cooking with Herbs: Enhance Meals with Natural Flavor
July 12, 2010 – 11:00 pm by MarinaHanes
There are so many land mines when it comes to food. You can’t have too many foods high in cholesterol, and you can’t eat too much sugar. There is a balance that must be maintained, but consuming healthier meals doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice taste and flavor. This is where your indoor or outdoor herb garden comes into play. Whether you grow herbs in your window or in a garden, it’s beneficial to have access to them when you’re preparing food.
A healthy diet can prevent so many diseases and issues. Did you know that your daily intake of salt should be around 2,400 mg? Well, sodium is at least one thing you can tackle so instead of salting your food and predisposing yourself and others to a heart attack, you can turn to herbs. The more herbs you have at your disposal the better, because they can be used in drinks and meals.
Herbal Drinks
Of course, you can create homemade herbal teas by drying the leaves, but you can create drinks with fresh herbs also. Adding mint to your water can freshen it up, and it might encourage you to stay hydrated throughout the day. If you’re a lover of cold teas, make some sun tea and add some basil leaves. Developing your own concoctions is the best part!
Flavor Infused Meals
Mixing and matching herbs is easy once you get the hang of it. For example, rosemary and basil is great for vegetables. Just set the herbs on top of the veggies and grill them to perfection. Not only will they taste delicious, but the aroma will be unbelievably good too.
Another option is to create flavorful marinades or dips for meats and vegetables. Use your favorite dressing and add fresh oregano or rosemary. Or make a dill dip for your raw vegetables.
Keeping it simple is key—a sprinkling of lemon or lime along with some herbs goes a long way.
