🌿 What Are Herbs?

•  Herbs are the leafy parts of a plant, used in cooking, either fresh or dried.

• They add flavour, aroma, and colour to dishes without extra fat, salt, or sugar.

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🌱 Herbs vs. Spices

• Herbs: Leafy parts (e.g., basil, parsley, thyme).

• Spices: Other parts of the plant (usually dried), including:

  • Bark: Cinnamon

  • Berries: Peppercorns

  • Seeds: Cumin

  • Roots: Turmeric

  • Flowers: Chamomile

  • Buds: Cloves

  • Stigmas: Saffron

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💚 Health Benefits of Herbs

Herbs may:

• Protect against heart disease, cancer, and diabetes

• Reduce blood clots

• Provide anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour effects

• Be rich in antioxidants, especially:

  • Cloves, cinnamon, sage, oregano, thyme

Specific examples:

• Garlic, linseed, fenugreek, lemongrass → lower cholesterol

• Garlic → helps with mild high blood pressure

• Fenugreek, linseed, flaxseed, cinnamon → aid in blood sugar control

• Garlic, onion, mint, basil, oregano, sage → cancer protection

📝 Tip: Add herbs at the end of cooking to preserve health benefits, especially when using fresh ones.

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🍲 How to Cook with Herbs

You can add herbs to:

• Stews, soups, casseroles, sauces

• Breads, marinades, salad dressings, stocks

• Butters, yoghurts, vinaigrettes, drinks, desserts

Or sprinkle fresh herbs on finished dishes for added appeal (e.g., basil on pasta, sage on roasted pumpkin).

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🔄 Good Herb and Food Pairings

Some classic matches include:

Herb	Best With
Basil	Tomato, pasta, eggs, strawberries
Bay Leaf	Soups, stews, stocks
Chilli	Curries, shellfish, tomato dishes
Chives	Eggs, cheese, salads
Coriander	Asian foods, guacamole, seafood
Dill	Fish, potatoes, sauces
Garlic	Meat, pasta, sauces
Ginger	Asian foods, baked goods
Mint	Yoghurt, desserts, drinks
Oregano	Pizza, tomato sauce, meat
Parsley	Seafood, rice, salads
Rosemary	Meat, bread, soups
Sage	Stuffing, pumpkin, chicken
Tarragon	Egg dishes, dressings
Thyme	Chicken, chowders, stews

🧂 Tips for Cooking with Herbs

• Dried herbs are more potent than fresh. Use 1 tsp dried = 4 tsp fresh.

• Create a bouquet garni (herb bundle) for soups/stews—remove before serving.

• Add hardy herbs (like rosemary) early; delicate herbs (like basil) later.

• Replace dried herbs every 12 months for best flavour.

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🌿 Herb Combinations

Common pairings include:

• Basil with garlic, oregano, chilli

• Bay with thyme, parsley

• Chilli with coriander, lemongrass, garlic

• Dill with parsley, tarragon

• Oregano with basil, thyme

• Sage with rosemary

• Thyme with garlic, bay, rosemary

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🌏 Explore & Experiment

• Try Asian herbs like lemongrass, Vietnamese mint

• Discover native herbs like lemon myrtle, river mint, pepperberry

• Grow your own herbs at home

• Try new herbs in recipes or substitute different ones to create new flavours

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✅ Final Thought

Using herbs enhances:

• Flavour

• Aroma

• Appearance

• Nutrition

They are a powerful, natural way to boost your meals both in taste and health value—so be creative, and don’t be afraid to explore!