Cooking is not always about spending long hours in the kitchen. Most often it is about using certain ingredients that can instantly boost up the flavours in the dish without needing you to put in much effort. That's the reason why fresh herbs hold a special place in regional kitchens across the globe. The green leafy herbs not only come in myriad varieties but also in wide range of flavours to help you add that extra edge to your home-cooked dishes.
If you have been looking for ways to notch up your cooking game, here's a list of five fresh herbs that you need to add to your grocery list and go all out and experiment with:
1. Basil
While basil is commonly associated with Italian cuisine, you can actually use it in a whole range of recipes to notch up the flavour note. Once you get the hang of fresh basil, we are sure that you will find it hard to do without it. You can add it in salads, stir-fries and even fried rice to add a pungent note. Or make yourself some fresh pesto and use it in sandwiches and pastas. You can also use Thai basil for a variation.
(Also read: 6 Ayurvedic Herbs To Include In Your Daily Diet For A Health Boost)
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2. Parsley
Much like basil, parsley too has a distinctive pungent flavour that works wonders to elevate the taste in Mediterranean salads, pastas, stir-fries, sandwiches, soups - you name it! It is indeed a multi-purpose herb, and it comes in two commonly available varieties - flat-leaf parsley and curly-leaf parsley.
3. Dill
If you are a seafood lover then you definitely should stock dill in your kitchen. It pairs like a dream with salmon and other varieties of fish. This delicate herb with its distinctive taste is an instant flavour booster. You can also use it in stir-fried veggies, yoghurt-based dips, omelettes, sandwiches and more!
4. Rosemary
Rosemary has a strong flavour with a slight spicy note, and as such it is commonly paired with red meats. Thinking of making a roast lamb? It is almost incomplete without adding rosemary into the baking tray. You can also add it while making roasted potatoes and pumpkin or while baking pies and tarts.
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5. Mint
In Indian kitchens, mint is no stranger. For long it has been in use to make chutneys, curries and stir-fries. Moreover, it comes packed with incredible health benefiting properties, being particularly useful for treating cold and cough. So remember to add it to your grocery list and use it to pack a punch in salads, fried rice, sandwiches, etc.
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Make the most of fresh herbs and notch up the flavour of your dishes.
