Kick Up the Taste with Herbs

It’s National Herb Week! National Herb Week was created in 1991 to help us appreciate the amazing herbs we have available and to help us learn about new ones we might not know about. We celebrate this holiday the week before mother’s day every year by spreading the word about all the benefits and great flavors herbs can provide! Replacing salt in recipes with natural herbs can help get a handle on sodium intake, without taking away flavor!

So What is an Herb?

Herbs originate from the flowers and leaves of plants. Herbs and spices do way more than improve the taste of foods! Herbs provide many health benefits. They have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Herbs contain anti-oxidants, essential oils and vitamins, which help your body fight against germs and toxins. They also help boost your immune response.

Raise the Heat!

This year’s star herb is The Chile Pepper, also known as capsicum. This herb can be sweet or hot, which makes for a very versatile herb option. Peppers are a key element in many cuisines and have many health benefits like aiding in weight-loss, lowering cholesterol and may even help lower your risk of cancer. Peppers have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years and are incredibly nutritious. They have more Vitamin C than an orange!

There are many ways you can dial up the flavor with herbs instead of salt! Adding a number of herbs to any dish can easily replace the salt and still taste amazing. Here is a list of what herbs go with each cuisine

Mediterranean: basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary

Italian: oregano, basil, marjoram, thyme and rosemary.

Asian: coriander, mint, lemongrass and ginger.

Indian: Coriander, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, bay leaf, and peppercorns.

Thinking about Growing Your Own Herb Garden?

Many people are starting to grow their own gardens with fresh fruits, veggies and herbs! You can grow your own too. Here are the top 8 herbs to grow in your home garden for this season:

Chives

Basil

Dill

Fennel

Mint

Parsley

Sage

Thyme

How Can You Celebrate?

Throughout this week try to add more herbs to your meals! Take your favorite dish and add some new herbs that you have never tried before. Get your taste buds excited with a new pop of flavor and try something new!

Your turn to take action: What is your favorite herb to cook with?

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