With spring only a few weeks away, our attention is finally turning to the prospect of warmer temperatures and a greater variety of fresh, seasonal food.
But with so many herbs imported from abroad, it’s sometimes hard to tell which are in season and which aren’t. Here are some of the herbs that will be coming into season in the next few months, and some meal ideas to go with them.
Garlic
You can grab garlic bulbs all year round, but garlic never tastes as good when imported. The good news is that in places in the northern hemisphere, including the US, garlic comes into season in February. Garlic is one of the most versatile ingredients on the planet and can be found in dishes from Thai to Italian to French.
If you want to enjoy the flavor of garlic in its purest form, then one of the best ideas is to roast the whole bulb and then use it to make a kind of dip for some toasted, fresh bread.
The French also have some great, garlic-centered recipes, including mushroom and puy lentil casserole, which helps to bring out the flavor of this classic bulb.
Parsley
By the time March rolls around, parsley starts to grow again in northern climes. Fresh parsley, either curly or flat leaf, makes a great addition to dozens of meals.
Flickr Credit: http://www.sweetestkitchen.com/
Strangely, parsley pairs particularly well with cauliflower. You can make cauliflower “steaks” with walnut, hemp, and parsley pesto. Just roast the cauliflower in the oven in strips, seasoning as you wish. And then mix up the pesto ingredients with a little lemon juice and zest in a high powered blender.
Many meal kits rely on parsley. If you don’t have time to prepare everything from scratch, then take a look at The Meal Kit Comparison reviews out there and find out which is best for you so that you can enjoy spring herbs.
Chives
Chives are part of the allium family of vegetables, along with leeks, onions, and garlic. Not only are chives delicious – adding a savory note to practically any dish – but they’re also extremely good for you. Like other alliums, research shows that they help fight cancer and keep cells healthy.
Want to incorporate chives in your cooking? Chives pair exceptionally well with nacho potatoes. Chop up some white potatoes into cubes and then grab a bowl and mix with some oil and arrowroot. (Arrowroot is a kind of starchy root vegetable that gives roast potatoes a great crispy texture). Then pop in the oven on high heat for around 20-30 minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the toppings: guacamole, salsa, cashew cream, creme fraiche, cheese, olives, red pepper flakes, and, of course, chives.
Ginger
Ginger is the last spring herb in our list. Ginger is renowned throughout Asia for its medicinal healing properties and is an excellent addition to practically any Asian dish.
The best way to bring out the flavor of ginger, however, is in gingerbread. The timing is good too with the Easter holidays coming soon.
