Herbs add delicious flavors to many savory and sweet foods. They can add a subtle undertone of flavor, or give a dish an extra kick – either way, the purpose of cooking with herbs is to enhance your meals without adding any extra sugar, salt, or fat.

Wake up your taste buds with these bright, tasty herbs and their suggested counterparts:

MEATS

Beef: basil, horseradish, marjoram, mustard, thyme, savory

Lamb: marjoram, mint, rosemary, savory

Pork: basil, chives, elder, rosemary, sage

Poultry: parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, savory

Fish: basil, bay, chervil, chives, dill, fennel, parsley, sage, thyme, tansy

VEGETABLES

Tomatoes: basil, chives, tansy

Carrots: basil, mint, parsley, thyme, savory

Beets: basil, coriander, fennel

Cucumbers: basil, parsley

Cabbage: caraway, dill, mint, sage

Broad Beans: fennel, parsley

Onions: sage, thyme

Spinach: basil, tansy

Potatoes: caraway, chives, mint, parsley

Peas: basil, mint, thyme

Turnips: caraway, chives, coriander, fennel

OTHER

Cheese: basil, chives, lovage, marjoram, sage, thyme, tarragon

Eggs: basil, chervil, chives, lovage, marjoram, parsley, tarragon, thyme

Cakes and Pastries: angelica, borage, caraway, coriander, cowslips, poppy, lavender, rose petals, rosemary, violet

Salads: bergamot, chervil, chives, chicory, dandelion, nasturtium, parsley, purslane, rocket, salad burnet, watercress

Soups and Stews: basil, bay, chives, lovage, marigold, marjoram, parsley, savory, tarragon, thyme

Teas: lemon balm, chamomile, elder, betony, lime blossom, linseed, marjoram, mint, nettle, sage

Tips for Using Herbs to Flavor:

  • Avoid using too many seasonings in one dish; try not to use more than one very strong herb, as this will overpower a dish. Use a ratio of one strong herb to one mild herb for the perfect flavor balance.
  • Add dry herbs early in the cooking process, and fresh herbs at the end to take advantage of their full flavor.

Whether you decide to stick to the more traditional pairings or experiment with your own unique combinations, your food is sure to have a delicious boost of herbal flavor!