|
How to Use Thyme in French Cooking Recipes |
|
|
|
|
Most recipes call for herbs or seasonings to complement the flavor of the food and French cooking recipes are no exception. Thyme is an example of a very popular herb. It adds a tangy, earthy flavor to your dishes and if you have used it before you will know what a difference, it makes. Knowing a bit more about thyme can help you to decide which French recipes would benefit from this tasty herb.
by KCKudra
Most recipes call for herbs or seasonings to complement the flavor of the food and French cooking recipes are no exception. Thyme is an example of a very popular herb. It adds a tangy, earthy flavor to your dishes and if you have used it before you will know what a difference, it makes. Knowing a bit more about thyme can help you to decide which French recipes would benefit from this tasty herb.
You have the choice of either growing your own thyme, buying it fresh or buying it dried from the store. When you are using dried thyme for cooking, half a teaspoon of dried thyme is equal to one sprig of fresh thyme.
You need to crush the thyme leaves before adding dried thyme to your food, to ensure the thyme taste will be evenly distributed. Dried thyme should be kept in a dark, cool place in an airtight container. If you keep it in this way, it should last up to 6 months. When it is past its best, the thyme will begin to smell musty.
It is easy to grow your own thyme and you can use a window box for this. If you want to dry the thyme for use in a French recipe, just hang it upside down for a couple of days and wait until the leaves go crispy. If you want to use it fresh in your French cooking recipes, do not use the stems because they are woody. Use the leaves only. You can either drag the plant through the tines of a fork to remove the leaves, or just pull 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.
You will also find out that thyme goes well with any dish that calls for mustard. Honey mustard chicken is a dish that can be almost childishly sweet until you add some thyme to help it grow up a little.
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.
As you can see, there is practically no limit to the ways that you can use thyme in your cooking. Spend some time with this essential herb and soon you will never know how you did without it!
|
