Creating Seasoning Combinations from Edible Flowers and Herbs

Creating seasoning combinations from edible flowers and herbs can be a fun journey of exploration.  I enjoy the quiet an am relaxed in my balcony oasis. Here are some tips for making your project a success.

Creating Seasoning Combinations from Edible Flowers and Herbs

Plant What You Will Really Use

There are so many herbs and flowers to choose from. The best way to begin is with what you know you will really use. What’s in your recipes and your spice rack. Which seasonings do you use constantly? And how tasty would they be if eaten fresh, not dried? How much money could you save growing your own? Each year I always have my favourite herbs. I prefer fresh to dried.

Where Will You Plant?

If you have a garden, great. If not, consider a window box, or a container garden on your window sill in your kitchen or another warm place that gets regular sunshine. I garden on my balcony and bring in the herbs in the fall to continue using.

How Much Space Do You Have?

You can grow herbs and flowers easily in a container. But some plants thrive when you give them space, like thyme and mint. It is a great all-purpose savoury herb that you can use in beef, lamb and chicken dishes. A classic combination of seasonings is parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. (Did you just sing that line?)

The classic combination is rosemary, thyme, bay leaf and sage. These herbs are combined into what is known as a bouquet garni, a small bag of herbs tied with string or ribbon. One or two are added to soups and stews to enhance the flavour while cooking and removed before eating.

Consider Your Climate

If you live in a place which is generally warm all year and you will be planting outside in the garden, you will have different options than people who live in more moderate climates, like me. For example, cumin is a cornerstone of both Mexican and Indian cookery. However, it will only thrive in a temperature of 85 degrees F and above, with good sunlight continuously for four months of the year.

If you are able to grow it, the cumin seeds can be used in savoury dishes such as Indian dry potatoes with cumin, sesame and black mustard seeds. Place the seeds in a frying pan with a small amount of canola oil and heat until they start to pop. Add cooked sliced potato and fry on both side until the potatoes are browned and fragrant and serve hot as it, or with a curry dish.

For Mexican food, combine cumin and coriander and add to beans, soups and even salsa.

Italian Cooking Made Easy

The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world. It includes small portions of about 60 different foods every day, including vegetables, fruit, and high-quality protein such as cheese and fish. You can choose dishes from Greece, Italy, the south of France, and North Africa.

By far the most familiar is Italian cooking. Mastering its seasonings will help you create healthy, flavorful meals your whole family will love.

Oregano is one of the key herbs (and it is also used a lot in Mexican cookery). Growing your own is fun and tasty. (I use Greek Oregano)

Pesto

Basil is another popular herb. Basil is the main ingredient in the green Italian sauce pesto, made with basil, olive oil, garlic, and ground pine nuts (expensive but delicious). You can make a large batch of pesto and then freeze it into portions. You can then pour it on pasta, or use as a mayo substitute on sandwiches such as chicken or turkey. Check out my pesto recipe.

Italian seasoning, which you will see pre-mixed in supermarkets, is a combination of oregano, basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and garlic. Some people use commercial garlic powder, but it usually has a strange taste and smell compared to fresh. Therefore, you can combine all of the herbs into a clean, dry container and store in a cool place, then just add fresh minced garlic when you add your homemade Italian seasoning.

Try some of these combinations and discover what a difference fresh herbs and edible flowers can make to a dish or begin creating seasoning combinations that are your own.

Check out my posts on Drying Edible Flowers and Edible Flowers that are easy to Grow.

What’s in your garden?

Happy gardening!