Herb & Spice Companion

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:140

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion

Dtp:VIVIAN Page:141

61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 141 3/7/15 5:11 pm

(Text)

ExOTIC HERBS

• 141 –

Harvest: Snip leaves when needed throughout spring

and summer, ideally just before using so they’re fresh.

Harvest young seedpods in summer, while they’re

green, flavorful, and still tender enough to eat raw. If

using the root, dig it up in fall.

Care: Snip flowers regularly to promote new growth.

If you let them bloom and seed, gather the fresh seeds

for a new batch to plant the following season. Prune

heavily after the plant flowers.

Keep It Fresh

Sweet cicely leaves should be used as

soon after harvest as possible. They

don’t freeze or dry well. Seeds and roots

can be dried and stored in containers for

later use, while the flowers can be dried

and used as potpourri (see directions on

page 20).

In the Kitchen

Dishes: Salads, desserts, breads,

liqueurs, beverages, teas

Prep: Use leaves whole or chopped and

seeds whole or ground. Stalks can be

eaten raw or chopped and added to sal-

ads or soups, just like celery.

Serve: The flavor of sweet cicely is a

wonderful counterpart for tart, acidic

fruits like rhubarb and apricots; toss

leaves or seeds into fruit salads, pie fill-

ings, preserves, cakes, and breads. Add

leaves to salads, soups, omelets, and

creamy sauces for fish dishes. Seeds

also make a tasty addition to custards

and ice creams.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Leaves:

• Chervil


• Fennel


• Tarragon
  Seeds:


• Anise seeds


• Fennel seeds

PAIRINGS

Fruits and Vegetables:

apples, apricots, berries, carrots,

gooseberries, lemons, nectarines,

parsnips, peaches, pineapple,

raspberries, rhubarb, shallots,

strawberries, sweet potato,

tomatoes

Proteins: almonds, cheeses,

chicken, eggs, pecans, scallops,

shrimp

Seasonings: allspice, basil,

cardamom, chervil, cinnamon,

cloves, cumin, garlic, ginger,

honey, lemon juice, mint, nutmeg,

parsley, vanilla

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:140

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion

Dtp:VIVIAN Page:141

61264 - Herb and Spice Companion_001-145.indd 141 3/7/15 5:12 pm