What Herbs Should I Keep on Hand?
Many home cooks like to keep a supply of fresh or dried herbs on hand to accentuate the flavor of popular meat and vegetable dishes. Some grow fresh herbs in a small garden or in flowerpots on a kitchen window sill. Most grocery stores offer a variety of fresh and dried herbs, usually in the produce or baking accessories section. But which herbs are considered essential and which are considered exotic? Generally speaking, there are a handful of herbs that experts consider to be essential in every kitchen, and dozens more that may be useful in specific ethnic or regional recipes.
Four of the most essential herbs are mentioned in the English ballad Scarborough Fair: parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Parsley is one of the easiest herbs to grow in an herb garden and provides a mint-like freshness when added to casseroles, meats and vegetable dishes. Sage is a popular herb in sausage production, as well as in savory herb blends for poultry and meat. Rosemary is easy to grow in small pots, and its branches can be used as natural basting brushes. Thyme is an ancient herb used to create savory sauces for meat dishes such as lamb and turkey.
Other essential herbs are usually found in Italian cuisine, so it pays to keep both fresh and dried versions on hand for quick spaghetti dinners. Oregano is a very popular herb in Italian cooking and is fairly easy to grow in an herb garden. Dried oregano is also a popular additive to commercial spaghetti sauces, and a generous sprinkling should improve the flavor of frozen pizzas.
Basil is another popular herb found in Italian cuisine. While oregano leans towards the savory and peppery side, basil leans more towards the sweet. Fresh basil leaves should be chopped just before adding them to a recipe for maximum flavor. Dried basil can be used as part of a spice rub for pork, chicken, fish or beef. It is also part of the spice and herb blend known generically as Italian seasoning.
There are other herbs that should be kept on hand for ethnic cooking. Many cooks enjoy the complex flavors provided by the herb cilantro. Cilantro provides the seasoning for authentic Mexican-style salsa and pico de gallo. Fresh cilantro is often sold in the same produce section as parsley, and the two herbs resemble each other, so it pays to read the labels carefully.
Some other herbs to consider keeping on hand are lemongrass, chives, marjoram and the ubiquitous garlic. Asian cuisine often calls for exotic spices and herbs, so an adventurous home cook should find a local Asian grocery store or well-stocked gourmet grocery store to make sure they are in season or available in dried form.
Written by Michael Pollick
