Fresh herbs are wonderful, and dried herbs are wonderfully convenient. Either way, herbs can really add pizzazz to your cooking. Herbs are produced from the stems and leaves of a variety of plants, while spices can come from a plant’s roots, seeds, bark, buds, or berries.
Dried herbs have a stronger flavor than fresh herbs. So when substituting dried herbs for fresh, use just 1/3 of the amount required for fresh herbs. To get the most flavor from dried herbs, crush them briefly between your fingers before adding them to a dish.
| Herb | Description |
|---|---|
| Basil | Pungent, sweet flavor. Available as fresh sprigs or crumbled dry. |
| Bay leaf | Strong, herbaceous taste. Sold as a whole, dried leaf. |
| Chervil | Quite aromatic, with delicate licorice-like flavor. Available as fresh sprigs (mostly in summer) or crumbled dry. |
| Chives | Delicate mild-onion flavor. Sold in thin fresh stalks, chopped, or dried. |
| Cilantro or Chinese parsley | Extremely pungent and aromatic. Sold in fresh, curly-leafed bunches. |
| Dill | Delicate caraway flavor. Sold in feathery, fresh bunches or as dried seeds. |
| Marjoram | A little like oregano in taste, but much milder and sweeter. Sold fresh or crumbled dry. An extremely versatile herb. |
| Mint | Fresh scent and a sweet, pungent flavor. Most common varieties are standard peppermint and spearmint. Sold in fresh bunches or crumbled dry. |
| Oregano | Intense flavor. Sold fresh or crumbled dry. A little goes a long way. |
| Parsley | Fresh-flavored and slightly tart. Available year-round in fresh bunches or crumbled dry. |
| Rosemary | Quite aromatic, needle-shaped leaves smell a little like lemon and pine. Mince the leaves finely before using. |
| Sage | Green-gray or purple oval leaves with a slightly bitter mint taste. Available in fresh sprigs, crumbled dry, and ground. Use sparingly. |
| Savory | Full-bodied herb that some people say tastes like a cross between mint and thyme. Fresh sprigs available seasonally. Crumbled dry available year-round. |
| Tarragon | Aromatic herb with assertive, licorice-like flavor. Sold as fresh whole sprigs, crumbled dry, and whole dried leaves. |
| Thyme | Tiny leaves with minty aroma and tealike taste. Sold as fresh sprigs and crumbled dry. Fresh varieties include lemon, orange, and French (the common variety). |
