Herb Pairings

Matching Sweet Valley Herbs with Your Favourite Foods

What herb goes with what food? Over the years this is one of the questions we have been asked the most. And the answer is easy. Although herb pairings can seem daunting, it really is up to you!

Although some herbs are best suited to go with a specific meat or vegetable, it is more about personal preference. So don’t hesitate to try ‘a little of this and a little of that’. You will be pleasantly surprised at how being more creative in the kitchen will liven up your taste buds and allow you to put a new spin on a classic recipe!

When following a recipe that calls for dried herbs and you are replacing with fresh, use three times the amount of fresh. Dried herbs are more potent and concentrated than fresh herbs, therefore it is important to add fresh herbs at the end of cooking and dried herbs at the beginning to allow time for the flavours to leach out.

Certain herbs undoubtedly belong best with certain foods, but more importantly remember fresh is always best!

Below is a simple Sweet Valley herb pairings guide to use when in doubt.

MEATS

CHICKEN – basil, chives, dill, lemon verbena, marjoram, onion, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme

TURKEY – basil, marjoram, onion chive, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

DUCK – chervil, chives, thyme

BEEF – basil, marjoram, onion, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

HAMBURGER – basil, chives, oregano, thyme

STEAK – chives, rosemary, sage, thyme

LAMB – basil, coriander, dill, lemon balm, lemon verbena, mint, marjoram, onion, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

HAM – rosemary, sage, thyme

PORK – basil, coriander, dill, fennel, oregano, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme

EGGS

Basil, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, sorrel, tarragon, thyme

FRITTATAS – rosemary, thyme,

OMELETS – chervil, oregano, parsley, chives

QUICHES – basil, dill, marjoram, chives

SOUFFLES – basil, chives 

RICE

Basil, fennel, lovage, tarragon, thyme

CHEESE

Basil, chervil, chives, dill, lovage, marjoram, mints, parsley, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

SOUPS

Basil, chervil, chives, dill, fennel, lovage, marjoram, mints, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, sorrel, tarragon, thyme, lemon thyme

VEGETABLES

ASPARAGUS – chives, lemon balm, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme,

FRESH BEANS – basil, dill, marjoram, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme

BROCCOLI – basil, dill, lemon balm, lemon verbena, marjoram, oregano, tarragon, thyme

CARROTS – basil, chervil, chives, dill, marjoram, mint, parsley, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

CAULIFLOWER – basil, chives, dill, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, savory, tarragon

EGGPLANT – basil, cinnamon, curry powder, dill, garlic, marjoram, mint, onion, oregano, parsley, sage, savory, rosemary, thyme

MUSHROOMS – coriander, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, thyme

ONION – chives, rosemary, sage, savory

PARSNIPS – basil, dill, marjoram, parsley, savory, thyme

PEAS – basil, chervil, chives, mint, rosemary, savory, tarragon, thyme

POTATOES – basil, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, lovage, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme

SPINACH – basil, chervil, chives, dill, garlic, parsley, rosemary, thyme,

SQUASH – basil, marjoram, dill, oregano, rosemary, sage, savory

TOMATOES – basil, chives, coriander, dill, lovage, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme

ZUCCHINI – basil, dill, tarragon, thyme

SAUCES AND SUCH

MAYONNAISE – basil, chives, parsley, tarragon

COCKTAIL – chives, lovage, parsley

BUTTER – basil, chives, oregano, tarragon, thyme

BEARNAISE – chervil, parsley, tarragon

FISH

TROUT – basil, chives, rosemary, sage, tarragon

SHRIMP – basil, chives, parsley, oregano

SHELLFISH – basil, chives, lemon verbena, thyme, lemon thyme

SALMON – chervil, chives, dill, lemon verbena, parsley,

LOBSTER – lemon verbena, parsley, tarragon, thyme

CRAB MEAT – chives, marjoram

COD – parsley, tarragon, thyme

Go Ahead, Get Fresh!

We hope these herb pairings inspire you to get creative in the kitchen and use your fresh herbs to their fullest potential!