Culinary Classroom Lesson 11: Herbs

Summary

In this episode of 'Culinary Classroom' with Chef Kerry Leonard, viewers are introduced to a variety of fresh herbs essential for enhancing dishes. Chef Leonard discusses the unique characteristics and uses of herbs such as mint, dill, cilantro, chives, oregano, thyme, tarragon, and basil. He emphasizes the importance of using fresh herbs for superior flavor and provides tips on identifying and incorporating them into culinary creations. The video also touches on the sensory experience of herbs, encouraging viewers to explore their flavors and aromas in a grocery setting.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Mint is a versatile herb with a distinct smell, used in a variety of dishes and drinks like mojitos and spring rolls.
• 🌊 Dill is a feathery herb often paired with seafood and used in pickling, giving a mild flavor profile.
• 🌱 Cilantro is popular in Mexican and Latin cuisines, and also used in Chinese dishes, but its taste can be polarizing.
• 🌼 Chives are milder than onions and are a staple in French cooking, often used to add a subtle onion flavor.
• 🍃 Oregano is a key ingredient in Italian cuisine, especially in marinara sauce, and has a pungent Italian aroma.
• 🌺 Thyme is a flavor enhancer found in many herb blends, with a herbaceous taste that adds complexity to dishes.
• 🌱 Tarragon has a unique licorice-like flavor and is considered lemony, adding a bitter note to dishes.
• 🍃 Basil is a staple in Italian cooking, often paired with tomatoes and mozzarella in salads, and has a strong aroma.
• 🍂 Sage is known for its association with Thanksgiving and is the main ingredient in poultry seasoning, providing a comforting aroma.
• 🌿 Fresh herbs are superior in flavor to dried ones, but it takes twice as much fresh to achieve the same taste.
• 🛒 The homework for viewers is to visit a grocery store, taste, and familiarize themselves with these common herbs to better understand their flavors and uses.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the 'culinary classroom' video?

The main focus of the video is on urban fresh herbs and their uses in various dishes and drinks.

Why is mint considered a versatile herb?

Mint is versatile because it can be used in a variety of dishes, including spring rolls and light dishes, and also in drinks like mojitos.

What is the common use of dill in cooking?

Dill is commonly used with seafood due to its mild flavor and is also the main ingredient in dill pickles.

How is cilantro typically associated with certain cuisines?

Cilantro is typically associated with Mexican and Latin cuisines, and it is also used in Chinese dishes.

What is the difference between chives and spring onions?

Chives have a mild onion flavor and are a different plant from spring onions, which are a type of onion cut into thin pieces.

Why is oregano often used in Italian cooking?

Oregano is often used in Italian cooking, especially in marinara sauce, because it has a distinct Italian flavor and aroma.

How does thyme enhance the flavor of dishes?

Thyme enhances the flavor of dishes by adding a herbaceous note without a strong pungent flavor of its own, thus providing a nice complexity.

What unique flavor does tarragon have, and how does it affect dishes?

Tarragon has a light licorice smell and flavor, which some people also perceive as lemony, adding a bitter note to dishes.

Why is basil a popular herb in Italian cuisine?

Basil is popular in Italian cuisine due to its compatibility with ingredients like mozzarella, tomato, and balsamic in dishes such as caprese salad.

What does sage smell like, and how is it used in traditional cooking?

Sage has a smell reminiscent of Thanksgiving cooking and is a main ingredient in poultry seasoning, often used in dishes to evoke a home-cooked flavor.

What is the chef's advice for getting familiar with different herbs?

The chef advises going to the grocery store, smelling, and tasting small amounts of different herbs to understand their flavors and uses.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 Urban Fresh Herbs in the Kitchen

Chef Kerry Leonard introduces a variety of fresh herbs that are essential in any classical kitchen. He emphasizes the importance of having these herbs readily available, either by growing them or purchasing them fresh. The chef discusses the unique characteristics and uses of each herb, including mint for its refreshing quality in dishes and mojitos, dill for its mild flavor complementing seafood and pickling, cilantro's popularity in Mexican and Latin cuisines, chives for their mild onion flavor in French cooking, oregano's pungent aroma in Italian dishes, thyme's herbaceous notes in herb blends, tarragon's licorice-like taste in bitter dishes, and basil's association with Italian cuisine and its compatibility with mint. Sage is also mentioned for its distinct smell reminiscent of Thanksgiving and its use in poultry seasoning.

05:02

🛒 Exploring and Experimenting with Grocery Store Herbs

Chef Kerri Leonard assigns a homework task to the viewers, encouraging them to visit their local grocery store and familiarize themselves with different herbs by smelling and tasting them. This hands-on approach is intended to help viewers develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the herbs' flavors and aromas. The chef also hints at the next episode's focus on glazes and marinades, suggesting a progression in culinary skills and knowledge.

Keywords

💡Urban Tresh Herbs

Urban Tresh Herbs refers to herbs that are commonly found or used in urban cooking. In the video, Chef Kerry Leonard introduces various herbs that are essential for a classical kitchen, emphasizing the importance of having these herbs readily available for enhancing the flavor of dishes. The term is central to the video's theme of exploring herbs for culinary use.

💡Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs are plant parts, typically the leaves, used in cooking for their aromatic qualities. The script highlights the superiority of using fresh herbs for their vibrant flavors, as opposed to dried ones, which are often used in the absence of fresh options. Fresh herbs like mint, dill, and basil are mentioned as integral to various dishes, illustrating the video's focus on the freshness of ingredients.

💡Mint

Mint is a popular herb known for its distinctive fresh and cooling flavor. In the script, mint is described as having dimpled leaves and a strong, recognizable scent. It is used in a variety of dishes, including spring rolls and mojitos, to add a refreshing quality. The mention of mint exemplifies the video's theme of using herbs to elevate the taste of food and drinks.

💡Dill

Dill is an herb with feathery leaves that is commonly associated with seafood and pickling. The script explains that dill has a mild flavor, making it suitable for dishes like dill pickles. The use of dill in the video underscores the role of herbs in complementing specific types of food, such as fish, and in traditional preservation methods like pickling.

💡Cilantro

Cilantro, also known as coriander, is an herb with a distinctive flavor that has gained popularity in Mexican and Latin cuisines. The script notes that cilantro can evoke different associations, such as salsa or dish soap, highlighting the subjective nature of taste. Its mention in the video emphasizes the cultural significance and versatility of herbs in global cuisines.

💡Chives

Chives are a type of herb that has a mild onion flavor. The script clarifies that chives are not the same as spring onions, which are sometimes confused with them. Chives are highlighted as an important herb in classical French cooking, illustrating the video's theme of distinguishing between different herbs and their culinary applications.

💡Oregano

Oregano is an herb with a pungent, Italian flavor profile. The script mentions its frequent use in marinara sauce, indicating its traditional role in Italian cuisine. The mention of oregano in the video ties into the broader theme of exploring herbs that define specific culinary styles and enhance the taste of dishes.

💡Thyme

Thyme is a widely used herb known for its small leaves and herbaceous flavor. The script notes that thyme is often found in herb blends and is used as a flavor enhancer without a strong taste of its own. The discussion of thyme in the video reflects the theme of understanding the subtle contributions of different herbs to a dish's overall flavor.

💡Tarragon

Tarragon is an herb with a unique light licorice smell and flavor. The script describes it as having a lemony quality and suggests it can add bitterness to dishes. Tarragon is highlighted as an example of how herbs can introduce complex and nuanced flavors, aligning with the video's focus on the depth that herbs bring to cooking.

💡Basil

Basil is a popular herb often associated with Italian cuisine, particularly in dishes like caprese salad. The script describes basil as having a strong growth habit, making it suitable for herb gardens. The mention of basil in the video ties into the theme of herbs that are not only flavorful but also practical for home cultivation.

💡Sage

Sage is an herb known for its strong, aromatic scent reminiscent of traditional holiday cooking. The script identifies sage as a key ingredient in poultry seasoning and describes its use in various dishes to evoke a comforting, home-cooked flavor. Sage's inclusion in the video underscores the theme of herbs that can evoke specific emotions and memories through taste.

Highlights

Urban fresh herbs are essential in a classical kitchen and can be planted for fresh picking.

Mint, with its dimpled leaves, is versatile in dishes and cocktails like mojitos.

Dill's feathery appearance pairs well with seafood and is the key ingredient in dill pickles.

Cilantro is popular in Mexican and Latin cuisines, with a distinct flavor profile.

Cilantro's taste can be reminiscent of either salsa or dish soap to different individuals.

Chives are milder than spring onions and are a staple in French cooking.

Oregano is a pungent herb commonly used in Italian cooking, especially in marinara sauce.

Thyme is a flavor enhancer found in many herb blends and grocery stores.

Tarragon has a unique licorice-like flavor and is used to add bitterness to dishes.

Basil is a staple in Italian cuisine, often paired with tomatoes and mozzarella in salads.

Sage is known for its association with Thanksgiving and is a key ingredient in poultry seasoning.

Fresh herbs provide a superior flavor compared to dried ones, but require twice the amount.

Fresh herbs should be used towards the end of cooking, while dried herbs are used at the beginning.

Herbs like oregano and marjoram may look similar but have distinct flavors.

The importance of getting to know different herbs by smelling and tasting them in the grocery store.

Homework assignment involves exploring herb flavors in the grocery store to familiarize oneself with them.

Upcoming episode will focus on glazes and marinades in culinary applications.

Transcripts

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welcome back to culinary classroom

I'm chef Kerry Leonard and today we're

looking at urban tresh herbs out there a

lot of different dried herbs out there

there's a few that you should know and

any good classical kitchen is going to

have a few of these hanging around all

the time if you're lucky you have some

outdoor space and you can actually plant

these so you can just go pick them when

you want them nothing better than the

freshest ok let's take a look at what

some of these are let's start up here

with mint I bet you guys recognize this

guy he's got the real dimpled leaves

there if you put it you can smell it oh

this is so good it's mint spearmint and

you can use a lot of different kind of

mint out there that you could really use

freshens up a dish you don't even think

about mint being inside of spring rolls

and some really light dishes so you want

to use mint it's also great for mojitos

make a drink it's fabulous

then here we have dill and this is

really feathery looking and you find

this a lot with seafood because it's a

really mild herb also this is where dill

pickles come from dill dill pickles so

this is one of the herbs that we use in

that with all the vinegar and the other

great pickling spices so this is dill

this is cilantro and boy is it's gotten

popular as Mexican foods and Latin foods

really come to popularity lots of

cilantro it looks like some of the

parsley family though so make sure

you're picking up the right item the

leaf shape is a little bit different for

each of the different Parsley's and they

taste very very different some people

think that cilantro immediately reminds

them of salsa and other folks thinks it

immediately reminds them of dish soap

for some reasons so if you get dish soap

in your mouth you might not like

cilantro too much but this is yet she

used a lot of Chinese food too the next

one is chives and a lot of folks think

that chive is that thing like spring

onion is cut into chives no the spring

onion is a spring onion these are chives

and chives are

so they have kind of an oniony flavor to

them but it's much milder so if you

really want the real deal this is what

you're gonna find a classical French

cooking is real herb chive then down

here we've got oregano now this is

something that you're probably your mom

grandma anybody make it a marinara sauce

is use lots of oregano you can smell it

throughout the house it has that

definite italiano smell to it so this is

oregano there's again this looks a lot

like marjoram which is its kind of

cousin oregano gives you that a little

bit more pungent smell than marjoram

does these are just so awesome working

with fresh herbs or awesome between work

or the fresh herbs and dry herbs it's

gonna take twice as much fresh herbs to

get the flavor but the flavor is so much

better only work with fresh herbs at the

end of your meal we're dry would be at

the beginning of your cooking

this is thyme super popular you're gonna

find this and just about every kind of

herb blend that you can buy at the

grocery store which of course you're

gonna be making your own from now on

this is called time and little tiny

leaves on here and this is just a flavor

enhancer it doesn't really have a

pungent flavor of its own it's just kind

of herbaceous and adds a nice complexity

to your dish tarragon tarragon is

awesome people experience tarragon a

little bit differently

it has a light licorice smell and flavor

to it but it's a fresh liqueur it's not

like black candy licorice but fresh

licorice to it also a lot of folks

consider this to be lemony it's a great

way to bring some of that bitter into

some of your dishes like we were talking

about with the umami

so tarragon we're gonna be using this

for a dish called bearnaise in a little

while so this guy here is basil I bet

you've seen him many many times he is

again super popular again as Italian

foods are coming up make a nice to

compress this salad with the mozzarella

the tomato and the basil a little

balsamic drizzle on that Basil's awesome

again basil and mint go really well

together you could put those two

together it smells awesome and boy does

it grow like crazy so you can definitely

have that in your herb garden and this

guy is sage you might not recognize it

by its sight but you would certainly

recognize it by its smell it smells like

Thanksgiving is cooking this is the

main ingredient in poultry seasoning

it's mostly sage like dried sage or rub

sage this is a lamb's ear sage it's just

super soft and you cut this up you can

mince it up you can put it in a dish and

all of a sudden it's like Mama's in the

house it is so good so these are your

really common herbs that you're gonna

find in any grocery store you got to get

familiar with these the homework with

this is you're gonna go to your grocery

store and you're actually going to take

a little bit and put it in your mouth

you don't have to buy an entire bunch of

herbs to get a flavor for something I

want you to smell and pick them up smell

and look like the dork in the grocery

store so you start to get a feel for

what these are there you go in our next

episode we're working on glazes and

marinades I'm chef Kerri Leonard for

culinary classroom

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