Recipe ideas for fresh herbs? - Cloth Diapers & Parenting Community

ekeith28 · 08-02-2013, 08:55 AM

I don't normally use fresh herbs, but I was given some fresh cilantro, parsley, and basil. What recipes do you recommend that use some or all of these?
Also, looking for a good salsa recipe to use for canning, if you have ideas!
Thanks!

Shimpie · 08-02-2013, 11:14 AM

Yummm herbs. You could make pesto with the basil.

Nandis · 08-02-2013, 02:20 PM

yum! Pesto!
I also like to put fresh basil in spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, and on lemon spaghetti. Margarita pizza is a good use too. So is boccacini salad (fresh tomatoes layered with fresh basil and fresh mozzarella (the kind that comes packaged in water) slices).

Chimichurri is made with parsley, and would be super good with grilled anything. You can add cilantro to chimichurri, too if you want, but I think the original sauce was just parsley. It's delicious both ways or with tomato to make it more like a salsa.

You can use the parsley and cilantro together to make tabbouleh. I usually replace the mint in it with cilantro and use quinoa instead of bulgur. Or, if you're ambitious, you could make fresh falafel, which really does call for both. I make a big batch and freeze raw shaped dough for frying later on.

So jealous that you have so many fresh herbs! I am the worst when it comes to such things. I buy them thinking of all the yummy things I'm going to make and then don't have time to actually make them. Well... except pesto. That I whip up in the vitamix in a few minutes, and because I make it dairy free I usually have everything on hand to make it. Anyway... enjoy your bounty!

Hungry Caterpillar · 08-02-2013, 02:31 PM

Fresh basil shines it's brightest when eaten with sliced tomatoes, a whole-milk mozzarella, and drizzled with good olive oil and balsamic.

Cilantro will work in your salsa recipe. I also like to put cilantro in sour cream mixed with a chopped chipotle pepper and use the sauce for fish tacos.

I'm not huge on parsley so I use it in recipes when it calls for it, but don't pursue recipes with parsley.

sublime.mommy · 08-02-2013, 03:00 PM

I preserve cilantro by picking it from the stems and freezing. Then I can just throw a few leaves in whatever. It's pretty much required in salsa (tomatos, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, salt and lime juice). It's awesome on tacos with onion and lime juice. I like it in water or tea to flavor it.

I don't like parsley. It's garnish. And it can dry up milk supply.

Basil is good on sandwiches. You can chop it up and freeze in ice cube trays in olive oil.

JennGlidden · 08-02-2013, 03:35 PM

Fresh basil adds a lot to any salad. Fresh parsley is good for salads too.

Does anyone have suggestions for fresh thyme? I've gotten some in my coop share and don't have a clue what to do with it. Thanks!

Hungry Caterpillar · 08-02-2013, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennGlidden

Fresh basil adds a lot to any salad. Fresh parsley is good for salads too.

Does anyone have suggestions for fresh thyme? I've gotten some in my coop share and don't have a clue what to do with it. Thanks!

Strawberry thyme jam is my favorite jam of all time

I use a lot of thyme. Love it especially roasted with veggies and chicken.

08-02-2013, 08:55 AM	#1
ekeith28 Registered Users Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 299 Ratings: 23 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Recipe ideas for fresh herbs? I don't normally use fresh herbs, but I was given some fresh cilantro, parsley, and basil. What recipes do you recommend that use some or all of these? Also, looking for a good salsa recipe to use for canning, if you have ideas! Thanks! Advertisement __________________ Start getting free gift cards for searching the internet with Swagbucks! It's easy! Get 150,000+ free online coupon codes, printable grocery coupons, restaurant coupons, cash back and more at ShopAtHome.com!

08-02-2013, 11:14 AM	#2
Shimpie Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,255 Ratings: 48 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Recipe ideas for fresh herbs? Yummm herbs. You could make pesto with the basil. __________________ Weena, wife to James and WOHM to Autumn (2.5) Labels? I don't use labels. I can't even get my label maker to work.

08-02-2013, 02:20 PM	#3
Nandis Registered Users Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Down by the bay Posts: 430 Ratings: 22 Feedback: 100%	Re: Recipe ideas for fresh herbs? yum! Pesto! I also like to put fresh basil in spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, and on lemon spaghetti. Margarita pizza is a good use too. So is boccacini salad (fresh tomatoes layered with fresh basil and fresh mozzarella (the kind that comes packaged in water) slices). Chimichurri is made with parsley, and would be super good with grilled anything. You can add cilantro to chimichurri, too if you want, but I think the original sauce was just parsley. It's delicious both ways or with tomato to make it more like a salsa. You can use the parsley and cilantro together to make tabbouleh. I usually replace the mint in it with cilantro and use quinoa instead of bulgur. Or, if you're ambitious, you could make fresh falafel, which really does call for both. I make a big batch and freeze raw shaped dough for frying later on. So jealous that you have so many fresh herbs! I am the worst when it comes to such things. I buy them thinking of all the yummy things I'm going to make and then don't have time to actually make them. Well... except pesto. That I whip up in the vitamix in a few minutes, and because I make it dairy free I usually have everything on hand to make it. Anyway... enjoy your bounty!

08-02-2013, 02:31 PM	#4
Hungry Caterpillar Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Southern California Posts: 5,201 Ratings: 13 Feedback: 100%	Re: Recipe ideas for fresh herbs? Fresh basil shines it's brightest when eaten with sliced tomatoes, a whole-milk mozzarella, and drizzled with good olive oil and balsamic. Cilantro will work in your salsa recipe. I also like to put cilantro in sour cream mixed with a chopped chipotle pepper and use the sauce for fish tacos. I'm not huge on parsley so I use it in recipes when it calls for it, but don't pursue recipes with parsley.

08-02-2013, 03:00 PM	#5
sublime.mommy Registered Users Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Wiscompton Posts: 1,023 Ratings: 41 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Recipe ideas for fresh herbs? I preserve cilantro by picking it from the stems and freezing. Then I can just throw a few leaves in whatever. It's pretty much required in salsa (tomatos, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, salt and lime juice). It's awesome on tacos with onion and lime juice. I like it in water or tea to flavor it. I don't like parsley. It's garnish. And it can dry up milk supply. Basil is good on sandwiches. You can chop it up and freeze in ice cube trays in olive oil. __________________ ~Nicole Doula Mama to D ('04), A ('06) and bebe EV ('13)

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