Good cooking is an art, as well as a form of intense pleasure… A recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation. – Madame Jehane Benoit, chef
The first and most obvious reason for cooking with herbs and spices is that they can transform your ordinary recipes into exciting culinary experiences. But there are even more good reasons to master the magic of cooking with herbs and spices:
- They will stretch your budget. By using herbs and spices in your everyday cooking, you can turn cheap staple ingredients into tasty dishes.
- They offer you variety and gastronomic delight for every individual in the family.
- You can easily make your own connoisseur pantry products like herb oils, vinegars, and mustards, which make great gifts. You can even turn this hobby into a part-time or full-time business venture.
- It is always a pleasure to receive compliments for our culinary creations. Herbs and spices will certainly earn you compliments when entertaining friends and family. Used skilfully they really are the ‘cherry on the cake’ for all your dishes.
Then for the more health conscious amongst us, there are many more advantages:
- Fresh herbs especially are wonderful sources of concentrated micro-nutrients, like antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. All of these are in an unadulterated natural form.
- In these times of ‘instant’ vegetables – in tins and frozen packs – it is clear that herbs and spices can do much to improve the taste and nutritional value of our veggies.
- Certain herbs and spices will stimulate your appetite and improve your digestion and general health and well-being.
- They are vital in low salt and low-fat diets.
One can truly say that herbs and spices give your cooking that ‘something special’!
Pause and Reflect
Which of the above benefits resonates the most with you? Share your thoughts in a Reply below.
I love cooking with herbs it does make any ordinary meal taste extraordinary!!!
So many benefits to using herbs with cooking/seasoning great source for nutrients and very helpful with special diets
Fresh herbs are a wonderful source of concentrated micro-nutrients. As well as that they stimulate appetite and improve digestion, general health and well-being
Health benefits from using herbs and the added bonus of enhanced flavour in everyday foods
I hardly use herbs in cooking due to the lack of ‘know-how’.
But I really want to incorporate it in my cooking especially after learning about all the benefits. I thought the only benefit is to the taste.
The benefits that excite me the most is being able to make your own pantry products and the extra nutrients you can bring to each meal.
All the benefits mentioned above resonates with me. I always use herbs in my cooking and I can’t even begin to imagine any dish without herbs!
I am not a cook by any stretch of the imagination. My fiance does all of that but I do love the thought off adding all the necessary micro-nutrients to our family meals. It will certainly boost the health of our family, especially the little ones who think ‘hot tea is gross’.
As an American, I see how our culture has really gone down hill in culinary health. If we could get back to eating a more whole food diet, including these healthful herbs we could become a more healthy society!
The clever use of herbs can stretch the budget. I prove this all the time. I believe we can go back to basic staple food diets and ditch the culture of convenience foods which has proven to be destructive to family health. Cooking chickpeas with selected herbs is one of my favorites. High in protein and fiber. I source this superfood for under R30/kg. Get my point? You are lucky to buy vegetables for under R40/kg.
Cooking and gardening are 2 of my passions. I love being able to nourish my family’s health with fresh, beneficial herbs & healthy veggies, and their hearts with the love that I put into their meals.
Have always used store bought spices to cook with. Always wanted to try cooking with fresh herbs but living on the road as a truck driver has its challenges.
I love the taste of fresh herbs in dishes, but the health benefits are of even greater interest to me. The medicinal qualities of herbs are really fascinating
I would rather swig a cup of herbs in tea, before I cook. Was joking the other day and said with all the herbs I use I may as well eat them the same way as meusli, that way I get them in all in one go.
I hate cooking. Maybe it will be less painful if it is specially prepared with lovely herbs from our own herb garden.
I definitely believe in food as preventative medicine. We have always cooked with lots of herbs, and I’ve recently begun to grow more of our commonly used herbs in the garden to be used fresh!
Also I recently made a lovely magenta ACV by infusing it with Dark Opal basil. It smells like basil on steroids, it could knock your socks off.
I love to cook! And I am big on using fresh or dried herbs, depending what’s on hand. I would love to learn to how to make my own oils and herbs as I would gift them to friends and family!
I jumped right on the ability to make herb oils and vinegars.
Also the concentrated micro-nutrients so easily obtained. And unadulterated is always a word my eye catches.
I love using herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of my dishes and the extra nutrients is a great bonus
I am a fan of using fresh and dried herbs in all of my meals and I am very interested in learning more about their application.
I am on a health Journey, so that really resonates me.
I love using fresh herbs in my food preparation.
I already cook with a ton of herbs and spices for the flavors…but never really thought of using them for their health benefits. Definitely going to starting adding things into our meals!
herbs and spices can do much to improve the taste and nutritional value of our veggies.
I love cooking with fresh herbs and spices. It has always resonated with me this packed they are with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. How exciting to have something so little but so full of important things!!
The use of herbs is really great in cooking because of the aroma and flavors it brings to your food , stimulates the appetite
In my opinion eating is disappointing – if spices and herbs are lacking.
Dinner is always better and more appreciated with herbs!
I love how many nutrients herbs can add to a dish.
I already use herbs a lot in my cooking for flavor but I’m really excited to specifically use them for their health benefits.
Hetbs and spices have less salt and add more flavour.
Vital in low salt diets. In caring for my mother, who could not have any salt, I used a lot of herbs and spices to help make her meals enjoyable.
I love using herbs and spices. I didn’t know the thing about the micro nutrients.
Fresh herbs especially are wonderful sources of concentrated micro-nutrients, like antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. All of these are in an unadulterated natural form.
turning the hobby to a business.
The art in itself of combining different tastes and flavors excite me
I already enjoy the benefits of cooking with herbs and spice in all my dishes
I love cooking with herbs but didnt realize the concentration of micro nutrients.
I love using herbs in my cooking! When blending herbs together in a meal, its like making magic. The food and drinks taste so much better. The added bonus is that is good for your health.
Certain herbs and spices will stimulate your appetite and improve your digestion and general health and well-being. !!!
Adding of herbs and spices does not only improve the tast but is great for your body too, mostly I forget this when cooking.
My connoisseur pantry and making gifts for the cooks in my family.
Never thought that the herbs I used in my cooking had health benefits.
I have used herbs in cooking for a long time but had not thought about the health advantages to them
Using herbs in vinegars and oils and other culinary treats.
The bigger stretching. It’s because sometimes I get seeds from then also. Once they start growing; I start saving money.
I love to boost both the flavor and nutritional benefits of the foods we’re eating. I cook from scratch, and herbs/spices are key ingredients in most recipes! I also like making herbal creations, for several reasons; knowing exactly what’s in the product, increasing the nutritional aspect (not just focused on flavor), avoiding unwanted additives, saving money, and it’s fun and satisfying!
I use a variety of fresh and dried herbs and spices daily to flavor food but also as health tonics. Especially turmeric, black pepper, cayenne, ginger, rosemary, basil and thyme.
Well, for me it is important to use certain herbs in my cooking. I have a Pita body and cannot eat too many hot things. That said, I need to eat a lot of warming spices like turmeric and black pepper and cardamom (etc) to assist my “digestive flame”.
Using Fresh herbs because of the wonderful sources of concentrated micro-nutrients, like antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
I like the ability and simplicity of using herbs from my garden to make my food tastier and more nutritious
The golden tea:
Almond milk, Tumeric, Black pepper, ginger and cinnamon combo has helped me through my period of chemo