Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:102
Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:103
61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 103 3/7/15 5:11 pm
(Text)
ExOTIC HERBS
- 103 –
Plant: Seeds or seedlings
Water: Occasionally, only when soil feels dry to the
touch
Harvest: Pick off fresh leaves as needed.
Care: Trim regularly to prevent flowering and promote
new growth. Epazote self-seeds freely and will spread
if not monitored.
Keep It Fresh
Epazote dries well and the flavor is comparable to fresh,
only weaker. It’ll also hold up if chopped and frozen in
ice-cube trays (see directions on pages 19–21).
In the Kitchen
Dishes: Bean dishes, salsas, quesadillas,
tamales, chilies, soups
Prep: Choose younger leaves to use in
cooking, as older ones have even stron-
ger flavor. Chop or use leaves whole in
any cooked dish. Chop for salsas, but
beware the flavor of raw epazote—it’s
potent.
Serve: If using dried epazote, cook for a
bit longer than you would with, fresh, to
soften the herb. To swap fresh for dried,
use 1 teaspoon dried epazote for three
or four fresh leaves. Note that cooking
will mellow the intense flavor.
SUBSTITUTIONS
There are no exact
flavor matches for
epazote, so cut it from
the recipe if you want
authenticity. You can
try combining cilantro,
oregano, and savory,
or use any of the
following.
- Ajwain
- Savory
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Oregano
PAIRINGS
Fruits and Vegetables:
avocado, chayote, corn,
fennel, hominy, lime, peppers,
mushrooms, onions, peas,
potatoes, shallots, squash,
tomatoes, tomatillos, zucchini
Proteins: beef, black beans,
cheeses, chicken, chorizo, eggs,
fish and seafood, pinto beans,
pork, white beans
Seasonings: ajwain, bay leaf,
cayenne, chili peppers, chipotle
peppers, cilantro, cloves, cumin,
garlic, habanero peppers,
jalapeño, lime juice, marjoram,
Mexican oregano, oregano,
parsley, peppercorns, poblano
peppers, rosemary, sage, serrano
peppers, thyme
Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:102
Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:103
61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 103 3/7/15 5:12 pm