Famous Restaurant Recipes - Using Herbs Successfully in Famous Restaurant Recipes
Have you ever wondered how professional chefs use herbs to flavor their famous restaurant recipes [http://ezinearticles.com/?Famous-Restaurant-Recipes---Using-Herbs-Successfully-in-Famous-Restaurant-Recipes&id=3003669]? The secret is in the quantities and combinations. I am going to unlock some of the mysteries behind the flavoring techniques of famous restaurant chefs. I will discuss some well known herbs and tell you how to use them successfully. I will also inform you of some herb combinations to avoid.
BASIL: Basil is an Italian, slightly sweet herb. Use it freely in traditional Italian dishes, pesto sauces, squash casserole, vegetable soup and Italian tortellini soup. Basil turns brown quickly, so do not tear the leaves until ready to use. Dried basil can be stirred in sauces and soups (at the beginning of cooking). Fresh basil should be tossed in only at the end of cooking, as the herb is delicate. The amount to use depends on personal taste (generous amounts can certainly be used in your favorite foods).
ROSEMARY: Rosemary is a pine like, pungent herb. Remove the leaves from their stems by pulling them out against the grain of the stem. Crush the leaves and use them sparingly on pork roasts, lentil soup, bean soup, flounder, sole and strong cheeses. Rosemary should be added to basil and lentil soups at the start of cooking. A little rosemary usually goes a long way, as it is strong in flavor.
CINNAMON: Cinnamon is a spicy sweet herb and is available in powder or stick form. Stir the stick form in a hot mug of apple cider or dessert coffee. Sprinkle the powder on sangria soaked in citrus wedges. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to a large batch of chili or tomato sauce during the beginning of cooking (it will add a mildly spicy flavor). Add 1/2 teaspoon to chocolate chip cookie batter (5 dozen yield).
DILL: Dill is an aromatic, sweet, tangy herb. The leaves are light and feathery. Chop the leaves finely and sprinkle on fish before cooking. Dill and lemon juice work well together in seafood dishes. Mix with sour cream or yogurt and use on baked potatoes. Add to potato or pasta salad along with mayonnaise, dijon mustard and lemon juice.
GINGER: Ginger is a sweet and pungent spice. Peel it with a vegetable peeler and grate, chop or slice thinly. Once peeled, it can also be pushed through a garlic press for mincing. Add to stir fry dishes and teriyaki marinades; remember to use sparingly (to taste), as it can easily overtake a dish.
HERBAL MIXES TO AVOID: Basil and Tarragon never work well together. Use one or the other combined with Italian parsley. Use basil with oregano (2 Italian herbs). Do not team allspice with cloves or nutmeg with mace, because they taste too similar. A useful rule of thumb to remember when using dry herbs instead of fresh: use 1 teaspoon of dry for every 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs.
Fresh herbs also make great garnishes on finished appetizers, entrees and salads. Sprinkle fresh dill over summer potato salad. Place whole basil leaves over angel hair pasta with pesto sauce. Sprinkle cinnamon over french toast. Along with these ideas and some personal experimentation, anyone can learn to use and combine herbs like professional chefs do in their famous restaurant recipes.
BASIL: Basil is an Italian, slightly sweet herb. Use it freely in traditional Italian dishes, pesto sauces, squash casserole, vegetable soup and Italian tortellini soup. Basil turns brown quickly, so do not tear the leaves until ready to use. Dried basil can be stirred in sauces and soups (at the beginning of cooking). Fresh basil should be tossed in only at the end of cooking, as the herb is delicate. The amount to use depends on personal taste (generous amounts can certainly be used in your favorite foods).
ROSEMARY: Rosemary is a pine like, pungent herb. Remove the leaves from their stems by pulling them out against the grain of the stem. Crush the leaves and use them sparingly on pork roasts, lentil soup, bean soup, flounder, sole and strong cheeses. Rosemary should be added to basil and lentil soups at the start of cooking. A little rosemary usually goes a long way, as it is strong in flavor.
CINNAMON: Cinnamon is a spicy sweet herb and is available in powder or stick form. Stir the stick form in a hot mug of apple cider or dessert coffee. Sprinkle the powder on sangria soaked in citrus wedges. Add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon to a large batch of chili or tomato sauce during the beginning of cooking (it will add a mildly spicy flavor). Add 1/2 teaspoon to chocolate chip cookie batter (5 dozen yield).
DILL: Dill is an aromatic, sweet, tangy herb. The leaves are light and feathery. Chop the leaves finely and sprinkle on fish before cooking. Dill and lemon juice work well together in seafood dishes. Mix with sour cream or yogurt and use on baked potatoes. Add to potato or pasta salad along with mayonnaise, dijon mustard and lemon juice.
GINGER: Ginger is a sweet and pungent spice. Peel it with a vegetable peeler and grate, chop or slice thinly. Once peeled, it can also be pushed through a garlic press for mincing. Add to stir fry dishes and teriyaki marinades; remember to use sparingly (to taste), as it can easily overtake a dish.
HERBAL MIXES TO AVOID: Basil and Tarragon never work well together. Use one or the other combined with Italian parsley. Use basil with oregano (2 Italian herbs). Do not team allspice with cloves or nutmeg with mace, because they taste too similar. A useful rule of thumb to remember when using dry herbs instead of fresh: use 1 teaspoon of dry for every 3 teaspoons of fresh herbs.
Fresh herbs also make great garnishes on finished appetizers, entrees and salads. Sprinkle fresh dill over summer potato salad. Place whole basil leaves over angel hair pasta with pesto sauce. Sprinkle cinnamon over french toast. Along with these ideas and some personal experimentation, anyone can learn to use and combine herbs like professional chefs do in their famous restaurant recipes.
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