Every kitchen should have herbs which can help you have a healthy diet as well as add interest and flavor to your food. Herbs have been used by homeopaths for millennia and are the primary sources of medicine for many people living in developing countries. Although the WHO statistics say that 80 % of people in the world have alternative or complementary health care, this figure encompasses those in the West who have acupuncture and other forms of alternative treatments which they pay for. In the past and even now in Asia in particular, herbal medicine is the only kind that people have access to. In the West, in the past, herbs were used to treat all ailments from the common cold to cancer and every disease in between. Now that we have found dietary supplements we are turning to these instead of improving our diets. This list gives the top 10 herbs which are useful for cookery and for our general health.
1. Oregano
This is readily available unless you live in some parts of Asia, in which case it should be substituted with Ajwain. It brings a real flavor of the Mediterranean to your food and is especially good fresh on feta cheese and Greek salads with a drizzling of olive oil on top of it.
2. Mint
Mint goes well with almost every dish and grows profusely so there’s never a problem with having some in a pot in the kitchen if you don’t have a garden. It’s a very hardy herb and is good for garnishes and adding flavor to cocktails as well as for cooking with lamb. You can make a tisane (tea) with mint by washing a handful of leaves and pouring a pint of boiling water over them. Leave them to steep for 15 minutes, and strain then drink to cool you down in summer. It’s a very refreshing drink and the same procedure can be used with other herbs in this list.
3. Rosemary
This is another Mediterranean herb that has a wonderful flavor, and adds an extra dimension to meat dishes. You can also use the leaves in pot pourris with dried flowers and other herbs. It’s good to rinse your hair in rosemary water too.
4. Chamomile
In Europe this grows wild in sunnier parts and Greeks swear by its efficacy in helping calm upset stomachs, and relieving stomach cramps. The white daisy-like flowers are attractive and can be dried to make tisanes with for colds, flu and the cramps.
5. Thyme
This herb was much used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to flavor food and for protection against witchcraft and rheumatism. It yields an essential oil which is used in aromatherapy. It is particularly good in combination with other herbs, as the traditional folk song explains “Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme” go very well together.
This spices up plain rice and vegetables, giving them an Oriental flavour. The vegetables might not be exotic, broccoli, onions and corn for example, but the addition of soy sauce will spice them up. It’s ideal for a quick meal solution.
This is a must-have ingredient. It is very beneficial for your health and goes over pasta to make a meal just as it is although if you have some oregano as well, it will help the flavour. Pour it over salads too and use it to cook with mixed with a lighter oil so that it doesn’t burn. It is an essential part of the Mediterranean diet.
Any kind of pasta is good to keep in the cupboard as you can make a sauce for it out of store cupboard ingredients and just use it with olive oil. It cooks quickly and fills you up.
The best kind to cook is basmati rice, but brown rice or any other kind is worth keeping to hand. Even I you just drizzle some soy sauce onto it, this will help fill your stomach in times of hardship.
Red lentils are especially versatile as they can form the basis of a soup or stew if you don’t have or eat meat. The Asian dishes of dhal are very tasty, so the addition of spices will give you a tasty healthy meal, full of protein. Mixed with cheese and breadcrumbs, you can make a lentil loaf if you don’t feel like a hearty stew.
