3 Popular Italian Herbs to Grow and Use in Recipes at Home

Using fresh grown herbs in our cooking recipes is one of the benefits of growing your own herbs. Many recipes, regardless of origin, call for the use of herbs - Italian cooking is no exception. From risotto to roasted lamb, fresh herbs offer a wealth of flavor and aromas which make even your neighbors start asking, "What's for dinner?"

Here are three common Italian herbs which are used in many Italian dishes from simple salads to hearty soups.

This guest article is brought to you by www.simpleitaliancooking.com

Italian herbs: Parsley

Parsley leaves make many a dish!

How to grow parsley:

If growing by seed, start indoors early in February or March. Otherwise, if using plants bought at the store, plant these when the weather is warmer and there is no chance of any frost occurring. You want the plants to be approximately 1 foot apart from each other as these will grow bushy. The less chance of overcrowding with the roots, the better off your new culinary herb will be. As with most herbs, snip the plants in the mid morning after the dew has left. This is when the oils within the parsley are most potent since they have not yet been dried up by the sun. Simply store the herbs in a jar filled with about an inch of water.

See How to Grow Parsley Outside and In for more on this amazingly useful herb.

Recipe uses for parsley:

When the parsley is fully grown you are ready to start using your new herb. Use parsley as a way to season breaded chicken breasts by adding about a 1/2 cup of it to your bread crumb mixture. Keep in mind, the flavor of the fresh parsley will become less intense as it cooks, so do not be shy with your quantities. Serve on a colorful serving tray along with some fresh green beans as a side dish. Don't forget, parsley is still good as a garnish - just remember it is good to eat!

Italian herbs: Basil

Sweet basil is the most common variety of basil. It is a suitable name for an herb which naturally gives a sweet flavor to many salads and other dishes.

How to grow basil:

Basil is one of the essential Italian herbs.

Choose a location where there is plenty of sun. This means at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun each day. Make sure the soil is fairly rich with organic matter and adequate drainage is supplied.

Plant the seedlings near the end of May when you know there will be no more frost. This is very important as basil does not grow well at all in the cold. It will take approximately 2 months until the basil reaches maturity. For a bushier basil plant, try trimming the basil leaves when they first begin to form - from the top of the plant. This will stimulate more growth and produce a healthier and bushier plant.

Recipe uses for basil:

Basil can be used in more than just Italian dishes, but you can never go wrong mixing a nice bowl of fresh tomatoes, chunks of fresh mozzarella cheese, hand torn fresh basil and a nice drizzle of olive oil and a dash of salt to go along with it. Give it a good stir and let the flavors have time to absorb and intermingle. Serve in a bright bowl to compliment the beautiful colors of the red tomatoes and the bright green basil. This is a perfect salad for serving with freshly cooked pasta served in your favorite large pasta bowl.

Italian herbs: Rosemary

If you've ever had lamb at a restaurant, odds are you've had it seasoned with rosemary.

Rosemary leaves add flavour to roast and chipped potatoes and many meat dishes.

Rosemary is a wonderful Mediterranean herb which not only offers aromatic fragrances to many meals, but also provides nice ornamental enhancements to your own landscaping.

How to grow rosemary:

Rosemary is in fact an evergreen and can grow beyond a few feet in height if not properly pruned.

Once the plants begin to grow cut back on the watering to once a week. Like basil, rosemary does best in full sun. Space the rosemary plants approximately four feet from each other, ensuring there is room for adequate growth. It will take about 5 months until the plant reaches full maturity (less than that if starting with a seedling). Once mature, you need to water the plant only during very dry periods. Remember it is an evergreen after all.

See also How to Grow Rosemary for more details.

Recipe uses for rosemary:

Rosemary goes wonderfully in many meat dishes such as oven roasted whole chicken to lamb sautéed in an oil and herb sauce. It is also a great herb to use when roasting chopped potatoes. Simply chop the potatoes and place in a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil and toss in 2 sprigs of rosemary along with a few crushed garlic cloves. Cook for 40 minutes at 400 degrees. F. Check periodically to make sure no burning occurs. The smaller the cubes the quicker it will cook. Serve on a decorative serving platter or in a serving bowl. This easy Italian recipe will have your guests coming back for more.

Author Credit:

This article on growing and using Italian herbs was contributed by www.simpleitaliancooking.com, easy Italian recipe website available for anyone who wants to return to the basics of Italian cooking.

Herbs can be a great part of green living because they are natural foods which contribute to health and well being and because growing herbs at home promotes beneficial insects and biodiversity. For more on growing herbs at home please see my page: Growing Herbs Indoors and Out.

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