Herbs in the kitchen: flavors always at hand!

Aromatic plants in the kitchen: all the herbs you need for preparing dishes in the kitchen, always at your disposal! Yes, that beautiful time of year has arrived when we start thinking about "re-flowering" the house with a green touch. The great thing is that even those who don’t have a garden can still grow their own herbs in pots, on a windowsill or on the balcony! What could be better than a touch of green in the city? So let’s think about something that can be useful in the kitchen, that we can pick fresh leaves directly from the plant! After all, it doesn’t take much effort to grow them: just a bright window, with the only care of keeping the plants away from excessive heat sources.

Let’s tell the truth, besides being extremely useful, aromatic plants in the kitchen are also extremely decorative. You can create beautiful green compositions to place in the most suitable location for your needs, and with just a bit of care you can enjoy your little botanical corner even in the city! There are other advantages, beyond their undeniable aesthetic charm: aromatic plants are very fragrant, some types also help to keep insects away, and above all having them at home will inspire many new ideas to boost your creativity in the kitchen!

Aromatic plants in the kitchen: which are the most useful?

Aromatic plants in the kitchen: here are the most widely used plants in the kitchen, that is, the essential herbs for creating many recipes, from the simplest to the most elaborate.

Basil is undoubtedly the most used aromatic in traditional Italian cuisine: there is no tomato sauce without a basil leaf! Basil goes well with numerous preparations like pizza, and is the fundamental ingredient for pesto alla genovese. It must not be missing from your balcony!

The rosemary is equally important in our kitchen! It is a shrubby plant that grows very well in pots even on the balcony, as it loves sun and warmth, but it should be protected from the cold with a non-woven fabric cover during the winter. Why is it important to have it fresh in the kitchen? The reason is simple: when used dried, it loses much of its active ingredients. Its digestive properties are well-known, as well as its capacity to stimulate circulation and soothe rheumatic and arthritic pains. In the kitchen, rosemary is a transformer: its flavor is irreplaceable for flavoring meat, fish, and even many types of sauces. It pairs well with bread, pizza, focaccia, cheese, soups, and even desserts.

In the kitchen, sage is a must! It is a rustic plant that loves sun and warmth, so it should be protected during winter. A sage plant on your balcony or windowsill will also help keep insects away! Try chewing on a fresh leaf: the properties of sage strengthen gums and help whiten teeth. In the kitchen, you can use sage for countless recipes: on its own it can be breaded and fried to serve as an appetizer; as a flavor enhancer, it is irreplaceable for roasts, game, soups, vegetables, fish, bread, and focaccia.

Chives: delicate but with an intense, pleasant aroma, ideal to combine with lettuce and tomato salad, or to flavor seafood dishes, eggs, potatoes, and creamy cheese, with which it pairs perfectly.

Also, oregano is among the most appreciated aromatic plants in the kitchen: its aroma is sweet and spicy, and it is ideal for flavoring dishes with nuts and cereals and legume soups. It also pairs very well with fresh and creamy cheeses.

In your green corner, you must not miss thyme, which can be used in the kitchen both fresh and dried. Try it on fish and shellfish: if you are used to using another herb on these dishes, you will notice a delightful difference! Also try it paired with blue cheeses or with tomato salads, or to flavor chicken by marinating it with oil, lemon, and thyme. You won't want to be without it anymore!

A true classic of traditional Italian cuisine is oregano, essential on pizza, exceptional on meat and fresh tomato salads. An incredible aroma that on your balcony will remind you of the Mediterranean scrub and the roads leading to the sea!

The mint is a fresh and light plant, its unmistakable aroma will be greatly appreciated by you but not by insects, which it will keep away from your windows. Among aromatic plants in the kitchen, mint is a true trump card: you can flavor salads, prepare appetizers, citrus jams, chocolate desserts, and anything else that your imagination suggests!

Aromatic plants in the kitchen: how to grow them

Aromatic plants in the kitchen: growing aromatic plants at home is simple, it doesn’t require a green thumb, and with a little care you can use herbs for preparing your dishes at any time!

The aromatic plants are very resilient, they don’t need constant care, and require only a few useful tips to improve the quality and yield of the plants.

Growing aromatic plants is the perfect idea to always have on hand all the herbs needed for your daily dishes. Certainly, in pots and on the balcony or on a windowsill, the space available is more limited compared to a garden, especially for some plants like sage and rosemary, which being shrubby can grow a lot and require more space. In these cases, the yield will be lower, but you can always cultivate them and have them fresh at your disposal!

When you buy your aromatic plants, the first thing to do is to choose the right position: the ideal is a sunny exposure, as the herbs prefer natural light. Place the pots near a window or on the balcony so they can benefit from at least four hours of sunlight a day. The ideal would be a windowsill or balcony facing south or southwest. If that is not available, an east or west exposure will also work. A north exposure would be excessively lacking in light and is not recommended.

Pot cultivation of the aromatic plants should be prepared with a draining layer at the bottom, with a saucer. The herbs are not particularly demanding, but if in nature they absorb nutrients directly from the soil, this does not happen in pots and therefore they should be fertilized once a month. The advantage of aromatic plants is that they can be grown even in winter, as enjoying the sun and warmth, they greatly appreciate the comfort temperature of the home! Thus you can grow your aromatic plants in the kitchen!

Aromatic plants require regular watering, paying attention to drainage; if the soil is moist, do not water again to avoid root rot. Also, pay attention to the humidity of the air: the plants do not like overly dry air, in which case mist them to keep them well hydrated.

Aromatic plants in the kitchen: a great idea to always have your favorite herbs at home!

Antonella Iannò

S&M