[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Herbs, often overlooked in daily cooking, can significantly enhance the flavor and nutritional value of your meals. Contrary to what you may think, incorporating them into your weeknight routine can be surprisingly easy. If you shy away from purchasing fresh herbs since they can be difficult to store or may go bad, dried herbs or even growing your own are both great alternatives. Next time you're planning a meal, consider these herbs for flavor and the variety of health benefits.
Herbs and Their Benefits: It's Not Just About Flavor
Herbs offer health benefits
Let’s get down to the why of incorporating herbs. Herbs are known to have quite a few health benefits. Herbs not only have a place when cooking, but they have also been used for
medicinal purposes as well. Herbs contain antioxidants and
may help with:
- Mood disorders
- Sleep
- Gut health
- Inflammation
- Wound healing
- Immune system
- Controlling cholesterol and blood glucose levels
5 Herbs, their benefits & recipes to try
Here are a few herbs to not overlook next time in the kitchen or at the store.
1. Basil: Basil is a versatile herb and a source of vitamins A and K, iron and calcium. It pairs well with many foods like proteins, vegetables, fruits, grains and beverages. It is recommended to use basil closer to the end of finishing a dish to get the best flavor out of it. Fresh basil tastes wonderful on a BLT or in this
Roasted Tomato Tart with Cauliflower Cream “Cheese”.
Dried basil is also a great staple to have on hand for uses like in this
Cherry Chicken Recipe.
2. Dill: Dill adds an herbaceous flavor and is a source of vitamins A and C, iron, folate and potassium. This herb can make many dishes pop especially when used with fish, salads, sauces and pickling.
Dried dill does not fall short in flavor and can be used just like the fresh variety.
Roasted Salmon with Walnut, Caper & Olive Vinaigrette,
Vegan Ranch Dressing and
Creamy Vegan Cucumber Salad are just a few ways this herb can be used.
3. Rosemary: Rosemary is a source of vitamin A, folate, potassium and calcium with its woodsy flavor. It is a variety of the mint family and can be used with proteins, vegetables (especially tasty on potatoes, turnips and carrots) and beverages. This herb is great when used fresh or
dried. These recipes highlight this versatile herb:
Grilled Vegetable Pizza with Balsamic Sauce,
Rosemary Sweet Corn Turkey Meatloaf and
Cheery Winter Simmer Pot
4. Mint: There are many mint varieties, and most are sources of potassium, folate, calcium and vitamin A. Two common mint types are
spearmint and peppermint. There are many uses for mint, from flavoring beverages to being used with fruit, proteins, sauces and in soups. One of my favorite fruits to pair with mint is cantaloupe with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and it is also tasty used in these recipes:
Fiesta Fruit Salsa With Cinnamon-Sugar Tortilla Chips,
Herbed Crab Meat Salad & Cucumber Bites and
Bright Spring Salad with Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette.
5. Lavender:
Lavender is growing in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. It complements
beverages, sauces, desserts, fruits and vegetables and it pairs especially well with peppery dishes. It does not pack a large nutrient profile due to the small amount used, but is a source of calcium, iron and vitamin A. Lavender is widely known for its benefits related to improved mood. Dried lavender is the typical form used in cooking but be careful of using too much so your dish will not taste like soap! Here are a few recipes to sprout your curiosity about lavender:
Lavender-Lemon Tea Cookies (Gluten-Free),
Lavender Lemonade and
Vegan Blackberry Cobbler with Chamomile-Lavender Biscuit Topping
More tips for using herbs in the kitchen
Dried herbs can be a good starting point when beginning to incorporate herbs into dishes. When using dried herbs, they need to be stored in a dry, low light area and can typically last for around a year. Creative uses of these herbs could include making
compound butters, adding to beverages, infusing honey or
sugars, freezing in ice trays with
olive oil, using dried herbs in a sachet to add to pillows or in rooms or using them in a hot shower.
If you’re intrigued about starting an herb garden, read how you can create a
DIY herb garden at home. Add whatever amount of herbs pleases your palette because there are no specific totals set for how much to eat daily. Just like fruits and vegetables it is important to focus on variety. Now go set out on your own “herbalicious” adventure! For guidance on how to incorporate herbs into your day schedule an appointment with a
Kroger Health Registered Dietitian.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Featured Products" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="178404" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1727472595585{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/simply-organic-single-origin-egyptian-basil-certified-organic"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="178401" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1727472607857{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/frontier-co-op-organic-lavender-flowers"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="178403" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1727472623037{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/simply-organic-rosemary"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
