Friday, December 12, 2008

The Many Uses of Thyme in the Kitchen

By KC Kudra

Whether you are a new cook or an experienced one, you will know that there are plenty of herbs, spices and seasonings that can be used to make a dish sublime. Thyme is a very popular herb and has various uses. Thyme is popular in French cooking recipes and goes with many different foods. Thyme gives food a tangy, earthy flavor and if you have used it, you will know that its taste and smell are very distinctive. A few interesting facts about thyme can help you decide when to use it in your cooking and how it brings out the flavor of your French recipes.

While some people simply buy thyme dried from the store, you can also purchase and grow it fresh. Remember that when cooking with fresh thyme that on a fresh sprig is about equal in potency to one-half a teaspoon of dried thyme.

Remember to crush the leaves well before adding dried thyme to your French cooking recipes. This ensures the thyme flavor will be evenly distributed throughout the food. You need to store dried thyme in an airtight container in a dark, cool place. Stored in this way, dried thyme will keep for up to 6 months. After that time it will go musty and lose its flavor.

Growing your own thyme is very simple and can easily be done in a window box. When you want to dry it, hang it upside down for a few days and check to see how crispy the leaves are becoming. If you decide to use it fresh, use just the leaves, as the stems will tend to be woody. You can drag the plants through the tines of a fork to pull the leaves off, or you can simply pinch them off.

There are many different recipes featuring thyme. A lot of French cooking recipes use thyme but it is also very good when added to a mushroom stroganoff. This is because mushrooms are earthy and so is thyme. Have a look through some French dessert recipes to find one, which will be delicious after your mushroom stroganoff. There are plenty of French dessert recipes to choose from but something soft and fruity like Pears Belle Helene or homemade vanilla ice cream will go well.

Thyme also suits most dishes that call for mustard. Honey mustard chicken can be too sweet for many people but adding some thyme makes the flavor rounder and much better.

As well as being used in French recipes, thyme goes very well with homemade salad dressings and vinaigrettes. It adds texture and spice. Thyme also goes well with soft, pale cheeses, if you are planning appetizers. The sharp taste of the thyme is excellent with the sweetness of the cheese.

The sky is the limit when it comes to finding uses for thyme. It is used in many French cooking recipes, so why not try a basic French recipe first, followed by a French dessert recipe. The impact of a sprinkle of thyme in your meal will be sure to pleasantly tantalize your taste buds. - 15359

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