Medicinal Herbs that Taste Great!

We all wish to eat a little bit healthier, but often times, we believe that healthy is gross.

However, we are here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be like that and that there are some medicinal herbs that taste great.

So, no matter if you are preparing soup, meat, or salads, you can make your dishes even healthier with these amazing culinary herbs.

Not only that they will taste fantastic, but they will support your health as well.

So, without further ado, let’s give a look at some of the healthiest herbs that taste great!

Medicinal Herbs That Taste Great

1. Bay Laurel

Bay Laurel is a plant with a strong aroma, perfect for any dish. Many know it under the names of sweet laurel or true laurel.

Many herbalists believe that bay laurel is one of the oldest cultivated trees.

It is ever green, and not only that it looks great and tastes great, but it is also pretty healthy.

What is It Good for?

There are several new studies that show how oils extracted from the bay leaf can help beat breast cancer. More studies are yet to be done, but scientists have faith that bay leaf can be a natural help to beating cancer.

Another study shows that taking bay leaf capsules every day can help people with diabetes to keep the cholesterol level at normal.

It is believed that regular intake of bay leaf extract or capsules can help in preventing, and even curing some heart diseases.

It doesn’t end here, because another study showed that bay leaf can reduce kidney stones.

Best Culinary Uses

If you say that you love French cuisine, you can’t not know about bouquet garni!

It is a bouquet of herbs that are traditionally put in soups, sauces, and other dishes.

Of course, bay leaf is one of the herbs normally found in bouquet garni.

Apart from that, numerous dishes with fish and meat use the bay leaf in marinades, and it is also often added to water in which shrimps are cooking.

It is also used in desserts like rice pudding. It gives a nice herbal aroma to this delicacy.

2. Parsley

You have probably been putting parsley in your soups and stews all your life, but you didn’t know that it is also healthy.

This amazing herb of fresh, citrusy flavor is much more than just an addition to your soup.

What is It Good for?

Parsley is rich in vitamins (vitamins A, C, and K) and antioxidants, so it will help in cleansing your body from harmful components that you intake daily with other foods and drinks.

Besides, vitamin K from parsley can make your bones denser and stronger.

As for vitamin C from parsley, it can protect your body from viruses in this flu season and keep the cold away.

One more benefit of parsley is that it can prevent and treat urinary infections.

Best Culinary Uses

As parsley goes very nicely with tomatoes, it is often one of the main ingredients of salsa.

You can also make a green sauce, also known as salsa verde, with pureed parsley and some lemon or lime juice and garlic.

Besides, as previously mentioned, you can add parsley to any soup and stew, and it will be just delicious.

3. Basil

Basil comes in many varieties, but no matter which one you like the most, you will benefit from it – a lot.

Basil is most known for its fresh taste and soft radiant green leaves that are commonly found in many pasta sauces and pesto sauces.

What is It Good for?

Besides the good flavor, basil comes with many benefits.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties will help clean your body and keep it safe from unwanted and unhealthy intruders.

In traditional medicine, basil has been used to promote appetite, especially in children who are picky eaters or never seem to have any appetite.

Additionally, basil is good for kidneys and protects them from the stone formation.

Best Culinary Uses

Basil is mostly used in Mediterranean dishes, including sauces, salads, and curries.

It also pairs great with chicken and sea food.

4. Tarragon

Tarragon has been known as a very healthy herb for centuries – even Romans used it to boost strength and vitality.

Nowadays, it is a common guest of fish dishes, but what health benefits does it have?

What is It Good for?

Not only Romans have been using tarragon. In ancient China, tarragon was famous for aiding with inflammations, and in France, tarragon tea has been used to promote sleep.

The benefits of tarragon don’t lie in tradition only. Science says that regular intake of tarragon or tarragon extract can help in regulating blood sugar.

It can also help your bones and muscles relax – especially if you suffer from any condition like arthritis.

Best Culinary Uses

As for the culinary use, tarragon pair very well with red meat, like lamb and veal, but it can also be a good addition to seafood dishes.

Tarragon is also a valuable ingredient of many traditional European dishes, like Armenian Tarkhuna drink, or Slovenian potica.

5. Lavender

We all know lavender for its amazing scent and beautiful purple flowers.

However, lavender is not just a pretty looking plant. It has a lot of health benefits, and it also tastes great.

What is It Good for?

Lavender is often used to help regulate appetite. Unlike basil that is used to promote it, lavender is there to help with appetite loss.

It is also used to treat circulation problems and lavender tea can help with insomnia.

Lavender tea can also relieve cramps and headaches.

Best Culinary Uses

When it comes to cooking, lavender is often used in deserts, as it has a flowery aroma.

Additionally, lavender can be used in different types of pastry and bread.

As it pairs well with rosemary, lavender can be a valuable ingredient of meat marinades.

But remember that lavender’s taste gets stronger when it is dried, so use it in moderate amounts. If you use too much, it might become bitter.

6. Dill

Dill is a gorgeous bushy vibrant green herb with fresh citrusy flavor and is often part of refreshing summer salads.

What is It Good for?

Dill has been used in traditional medicine since forever.

At first, it has been used to fresh up your breath, and later on, to help with digestive problems and stomach pain.

As dill is safe to use, even for babies, many doctors advise the parents to give a pinch of dill to their youngests to treat colic.

Best Culinary Uses

As dill has a pretty strong taste, many dishes have just a pinch of it, because even the smallest amount can take over the dish – especially those light ones.

As heat can reduce the taste of this herb, dill is often used in cold dishes – salads, dressings, with vegetables and fish.