How to Use Thyme in Cooking
Thyme is a versatile herb that can be used in a variety of dishes. It adds a distinctive and flavorful taste to food, and it also has many health benefits.
In this article, we will give you some ideas on how to use thyme in cooking for your family of 4.
Thyme Uses in Cooking
Thyme can be used in a variety of dishes, including:
- Grilling: Add thyme to chicken, beef, or fish before grilling for a rich flavor.
- Salads: Add fresh or dried thyme to salads for a refreshing flavor.
- Pizza: Add thyme to traditional pizza or try thyme pizza with tomato sauce and thyme.
- Pasta: Add thyme to pasta, pizza, or bread for an extra flavor boost.
- Bread: Add thyme to the dough for a flavorful bread.
- Side dishes: Add thyme to rice, potatoes, or vegetables for a rich flavor.
- Soups: Add thyme to soup or sauce for an extra flavor boost.
- Sauces: Add thyme to sauces like pesto or tomato sauce for a flavorful twist.
- Pickles: Add thyme to pickles for a refreshing flavor.
Specific Recipes
Here are some specific recipes you can try:
- Roasted chicken with thyme:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Bake chicken for 30-40 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Green salad with thyme:
- Toss lettuce, arugula, fresh thyme, olive oil, and vinegar.
- Thyme pizza:
- Mix tomato sauce, fresh thyme, and grated cheese.
- Spread the mixture over pizza dough and bake according to package directions.
- Pasta with thyme:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add minced garlic and fresh thyme and cook for 1 minute. Add cooked pasta, hot water, and stir until combined.
- Thyme bread:
- Mix flour, salt, and yeast in a large bowl.
- Add water, olive oil, and fresh thyme and stir until a smooth dough forms.
- Knead for 5 minutes, or until smooth and workable.
- Grease a large bowl with vegetable oil.
- Place dough in bowl and grease the top with olive oil.
- Cover and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove dough from bowl and brush top with olive oil again.
- Shape into a loaf.
- Place loaf in a baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Tips for Choosing and Using Thyme
- When choosing thyme, look for dark green, full leaves.
- Fresh or dried thyme can be used in cooking.
- If using fresh thyme, add to dishes at the end of cooking to prevent loss of flavor.
- If using dried thyme, add to dishes at the beginning of cooking.
Thyme Health Benefits
In addition to its delicious flavor, thyme has many health benefits, including:
- Anti-inflammatory properties: Thyme can help reduce inflammation in the body, which can lead to a variety of health problems.
- Antioxidant properties: Thyme is a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect cells from damage.
- Antimicrobial properties: Thyme has antimicrobial properties that can help fight infection.
How to Store Thyme
Thyme can be stored fresh for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or for up to 6 months in the freezer. Dried thyme can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 year.
Conclusion
Thyme is a versatile herb that can be used to add flavor and health benefits to a variety of dishes. With a little creativity, you can find many ways to use thyme in your cooking.
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