Using Your Dried Herbs
Those herbs you forgot about in your crisper drawer have life far even when they’re dried all the way through.
These dried-out herbs add a more concentrated flavor to dishes.
Ever find yourself purchasing a new bunch of fresh rosemary when you already have some in the fridge? I often find myself digging into my produce drawer to find dried-out old herbs in their shells at the bottom of my refrigerator. Just because those herbs aren’t fresh, doesn’t mean they no longer have a purpose! I’m talking generally about woodier herbs like thyme and rosemary, but dill, sage, and parsley are also lovely in this regard. Lots of talented cooks go to great lengths to achieve the same goal of what just happened naturally when you left your herbs alone. Curious? Read on!
It’s a one or two step process for storage: at its most basic level, I strip the leaves from the leaves and then seal them in an airtight container. I would then crush the leaves between my fingers before using in any dish. If I’d rather make an herb powder, I would pulse the herbs in a coffee or a spice grinder instead. You won’t believe how aromatic the powder will be, as the flavors get much more potent as the herbs dehydrate. You’ll be so upset you’ve every thrown away any herbs like this before!
What do you do with these herb powders? Here are a few ways you can reinvent the wheel in your cooking:
An herb sugar: I love the savory flavors of thyme or rosemary mixed with sugar— they are a great addition to a morning porridge or oatmeal.
Make a custom herb blend to add to a dipping garlic oil or a vinaigrette.
Add the powder to an herb rub on a roast chicken.
Crumble the herbs over a stew just before serving to give the dish an extra aromatic boost.
Add some dried herbs to your bread doughs.
Recognize that seasoning with herbs happens in layers. You can add a dried herb as a base note and still finish the dish with fresh herbs to achieve a more complex dish.
A Witchy Bonus
Although it is a practice indigenous to Native American cultures, smudge sticks have become quite in vogue for cleansing the energy in your home. It is a nice practice to make your own smudge sticks out of the herbs you already use rather than purchasing wood or herbs that may be endangered. Use herbs that are just starting to dry out, as fully dried herbs will break too much. Position your bases on the lowest leaves at the same height, and cut a piece of twine four times the length of your bundle. Tie the herbs at the base with a small knot in the twine, leaving one long tail. Spiral the twine up the bundle, wrapping in any loose ends as you go. Once you reach the top of the bundle, spiral back down and tie the other end to your original knot.
