Herbs Italian Sage
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Herbs Italian Sage
How do I create a crispy herb garnish?
I was recently at an upscale Italian restaurant and ordered their homemade gnocchi. It came with a sage butter sauce, and for a garnish whole sage leafs that were perfectly crisp. I've been racking my brain trying to reproduce these crispy leaves, but every time I try they either come out wilted or burnt. I figured it would be as simple as dropping them in hot oil, fishing them out, and letting them dry on a paper towel, but that doesn't seem to be working for me. Any ideas?
In a skillet over high heat add the butter when pan is very hot. Let butter sit undisturbed until almost all melted and outside edges have begun to caramelize. Quickly swirl the skillet and add the sage. Let cook for 30 seconds longer, season with salt and pepper to taste. Then add your cooked gnocchi to the skillet to toss with sauce, and rewarm if necessary. Serve immediately with shaved Parmesan cheese.
New Herbs!!!!
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Herbs of Tuscany Herb Kit List Price: $26.99 Sale Price: $19.85  |
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Sage: Delicious with meat dishes, sage is a flavorful, lively taste. Sweet Marjoram: An elegant and versatile herb, this one has a sweeter and more balsam-like taste than oregano. Garlic Chives: Often preferred in uncooked dishes in Italian cuisine... |
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100 Plus TRUE TYPE ITALIAN BROAD LEAF SAGE SEEDS Sale Price: $1.29 |
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Fresh herbs add zest and flavor to everyday cooking. With a little care and watering, you can have a thriving Italian herb garden all summer long no green thumb required. SAGE One of the favorite Italian herbs it grows to a height of between 50 and 60 cm... |
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Indus Organic Sage Herb List Price: $3.79 Sale Price: $3.49 |
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Organic Sage rubbed pack has finest quality leaves that you need to make a tasteful food. These high quality hand picked Sage leaves will give you the taste and aroma that a food lover needs. All product packs have a re-sealing zipper to protect them from moisture and enhanced shelf life... |
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Lazzaroni Bruschette with Rosemary and Sage - 5.3 oz Sale Price: $3.49 |
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Bruschette (plural for bruschetta) is a staple base for a simple and satisfying Italian snack or meal. The history behind bruschette is rooted deep in the traditions of old world farmers. Image for a moment, country farmers going out in the beginning of November for olive harvesting... |
Italians insist upon fresh ingredients in their food, and their herbs are no exception. There are a variety of fresh herbs common in Italian cooking. Most people are familiar with the little bottles of dried herbs from the grocery store, but if you haven’t prepared food with fresh herbs, you really need to give it a try.
What’s the distinction between an herb and a spice?
Spices are made from the seeds, root, fruit or barks of aromatic plants, while the herbs primarily consist of the leaves and stems. Herb plants contain oils which are very fragrant and add the distinctive aroma and flavor that Italian food is known for. A few of the most common herbs are basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme.
Basil is a member of the mint family, and like all mint herbs, it is extremely fragrant when picked fresh. Basil leaves blacken when exposed to metal, therefore it is common in Italy to tear the leaves by hand before throwing the basil into a sauce or onto a dish. Basil is the primary herb for the famous pesto sauce.
Oregano is another popular herb in both Italian and Greek food. Most people are familiar with this herb in tomato based pasta sauces and with meats.
Italian Parsley, also known as flat-leaf parsley, is readily available in most grocery stores and is easy to distinguish it from the curly variety frequently used as a garnish. Italians favor this parsley for cooking because it has a much better flavor, while the curlier variety is best saved for garnishing your dish.
Rosemary is another widely available herb and resembles a little branch from an evergreen tree. This is one of the most fragrant of all the fresh herbs and it will retain its flavor and aroma when dried. It’s excellent with vegetables and is often cooked into the dough of breads like focaccia.
Sage has long, broad leaves and is the herb which flavors the traditional Italian Saltimbocca dish. Sage is also very fragrant so be sure you don’t use too much and overwhelm your meal.
Thyme is another herb of the mint family, but in contrast to the other mints, it has tiny leaves that can easily be thrown whole into your sauce or dish. I use this herb frequently because its mild flavor goes well with everything and won’t overshadow the rest of your dish.
There are some basic rules for cooking with fresh herbs. Fresh herbs are more delicate than dried and can lose some of their flavor when cooked too long. For slow cooked sauces and meats, you can add the fresh herbs at the last minute keeping their flavors and aromas intact. On the other hand, the oils in dried herbs are concentrated requiring a smaller amount of than fresh herbs in your recipes. A good general rule of thumb is to use one tablespoon of fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried herbs needed in a dish. But remember, cooking is an art and you can use as much or as little as you like.
The next time you want to spruce up an everyday meal, throw in some fresh Italian herbs.
About the Author:
Joy Harrison is an experienced home cook and cooking instructor. She loves to find easy ways to prepare great home cooked meals in today's busy world. To learn more visit her site at http://Easy Italian Cooking.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Great Italian Food Starts With Fresh Herbs
