You either love experimenting in the kitchen or you don't - it's that simple. And we get it, it can feel daunting trying something new. But cooking with herbs is an easy (and usually fail-safe) way of trying new flavours and broadening your horizons.
"I always have some pots of fresh herbs growing on my window sill; they’re a wonderfully simple way of adding depth to a dish," says food writer Alex Hollywood. "Rosemary and thyme are more woody and tough so are perfect for slow cooking casseroles or meats, while delicate basil, tarragon and coriander can be torn and added towards the end of cooking, or as with parsley, used as a garnish too."
What herbs go with which meat and vegetables?
"There are the usual classic pairings - lamb with mint or rosemary, pork with sage, fish with parsley - but there are so many other combinations that give a flavour of far-flung destinations," Alex explains. "Coriander with spices added to pork beef or chicken; mint added to roasted vegetables; thyme and lemon with fish or dill; oregano with lamb and poultry; rosemary, thyme, sage or marjoram with beef; fresh tarragon with chicken; fresh basil, coriander and parsley in salads or with steamed vegetables."
How to season chicken
Chicken goes well with many different herbs depending on how you're it and which part of the bird you're cooking.
"I have recipes in my books that use woody herbs like thyme and other recipes which have more subtle herbs like coriander or basil," says Alex. "Chicken is really versatile when it comes to flavours which is one of the reasons it's so popular. You can dial up the herbs and spices to suit your taste."
How to season steak
Some people just like sea salt and freshly ground pepper on the steak and that's fine!
"I prefer a bit more of a flavour kick so I make a rub with a tablespoon each of sweet paprika, ground cumin and sea salt and then two tablespoons of dried oregano. Mix it all up and it'll keep in a jar for a good few months," Alex promises.
When ready to use, Alex recommends simply rubbing it over your steaks and leaving them for an hour before cooking.
How to season salmon
Because salmon has a very subtle flavour, you don't want to overpower it with herbs and spices.
"Try using parsley with basil and lemon or dill or tarragon and cracked black pepper to enhance the smooth richness of the fish."
How to make fajita seasoning
"I've got a spicy fajita mix which everyone loves!" Alex says. "Combine two teaspoons of dried oregano, two teaspoons of smoked paprika, two teaspoons of onion powder, a teaspoon each of ground cumin, garlic powder and chilli powder - hot or mild depending on what you like - and half a teaspoon of chilli flakes. It's so much tastier than the ready mixes!"
How to make cajun seasoning
"If you want that deep south flavour, it's two teaspoons each of paprika, dried thyme and dried oregano, one teaspoon of garlic powder and then half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, ground cumin, ground pepper and salt," recommends Alex. "Mix it all up and you can use it on pork, chicken, fish, prawns and veggies."
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