Which Spices & Herbs to Use

[ysabetwordsmith]

This came up in a discussion over on my community <lj comm="cheap_cookin" and I figured it was worth sharing here too: Hanging on our fridge is a large poster with a grid of foods and the spices that go with them. For similar information, see: Culinary Herbs and Their Uses chart http://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=./InfoSheets/chart.html What Herbs Go Best with Certain Foods http://molly-mormon.com/what-herbs-go-best-with-certain-foods/ Which Spices/Herbs to Use http://www.compassionatecooks.com/word/herbs.htm Herb & Spice Chart http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blmisc2.htm

Comments

[glitteringlynx.livejournal.com]

This is so great for a newb like me. I never really am sure what goes with what, since my mom didn't use a lot of herbs and spices unless she was cooking a recipe which called for them.

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

In that case, a grid is a good way to start learning what herbs are and how they work. You can find a list of herbs that go with a certain ingredient, like beef or squash; or a list of foods that go with a certain herb, like basil.

It's a good idea to start with just a few common herbs, learn them, and then expand. Basil, bay leaves, chives, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, and sweet marjoram are easy for beginners.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

This looks rather like a culinary corset, supportive for some and restrictive for others.

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

That depends on how you use it.

For a novice cook, an herb grid helps teach what things taste like and what combinations are safe.

For an intermediate cook, an herb grid helps learn how the herbs work alone and together, what each one is good for.

For an experienced cook, an herb grid is a handy reminder and a way to track complex interactions.

We often make crock pot combos by looking up the main ingredients and then checking for herbs listed for all of them.

But we also cook by the "what's fresh?" method. I go outside and see what I can pick a handful of.