How to Preserve Seasonings: Herbs Today, Preserves Tomorrow

preserve

What do you do when you have bunches of herbs reaching maturity at the same time? Preserve them!  

Preserving herbs for seasonings involves traditional techniques that use salt, oil, sugar, alcohol, vinegar, and a few other simple ingredients. 

The following is an excerpt from Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning. It has been adapted for the web.


Preserve Seasonings in Vinegar

Basil

  • Basil
  • Cider vinegar
  • Small jars and lids

To keep basil fresh for salads, all you have to do is chop some and place it in a small jar with some good cider vinegar. Store the jar in a cool place, and enjoy this valuable seasoning anytime!

Jacqueline Clossett, Belgium


Preserve Pickled Garlic

  • preserve1 lb. garlic
  • 1 quart water
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • Bay leaves
  • Black peppercorns
  • 1 cup vinegar<
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • A saucepan
  • Small jars and lids

Peel the garlic. Boil one quart of water with one tablespoon of salt. Add the garlic and continue to boil for three to five minutes. Drain the garlic.

Fill small jars with the garlic, one bay leaf, and five black peppercorns.

Boil the vinegar along with one-half cup of water and sugar, pour this mixture over the garlic, and immediately close the jars. The garlic will keep for a very long time, and is particularly tasty in salads.

Ted Braam, Hagraulet-Du-Gers


Preserve Sage or Rosemary-Scented Vinegar

  • 1 lb. dried sage or rosemary flowers
  • 1/2 quart wine vinegar
  • A glass jar or bottle with cork or lid
  • A fine cloth
  • Bottles with corks or lids

Soak the dried flowers in a glass jar filled with wine vinegar. Close the jar and leave it in the sun for eight to ten days. Then filter the contents through a fine cloth, twice. Store this fragrant vinegar in tightly closed bottles.

Michel Guerville, Dannes


Recommended Reads

Tips & Tricks for Harvesting and Drying Herbs

Mastering the Actions of Herbs

 

Read The Book

Preserving Food without Freezing or Canning

Traditional Techniques Using Salt, Oil, Sugar, Alcohol, Vinegar, Drying, Cold Storage, and Lactic Fermentation

$16.25

Enter your email to sign up for our newsletter and save 25% on your next order

Recent Articles

Umami Bomb: Caramelized Miso Cheese

If you read our post about growing koji in your kitchen, you’re probably itching to try out those new koji skills! This miso cheese recipe is an excellent next stop on your koji-kitchen journey. Miso cheese is sure to add a twist to any cheese lover’s plate, plus it’s easy to make at home! The following…

Read More
roasted root veggies

Roasted Root Veggies with Pomegranate Drizzle

Do you still have an abundance of root veggies from your final fall harvest? You’re in luck! This  pomegranate drizzle will add just the right amount of “oomph” to your favorite dish of roasted root veggies. The following recipe is from The Fruit Forager’s Companion by Sara Bir. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE:…

Read More
Three pancakes on a griddle

The Grains Glossary and a Recipe for the Perfect Pancake

Grains are a ubiquitous part of the American diet and a staple in many of our favorite recipes. Bread? Yep, grains. Pasta? Grains there, too. Pancakes? Most definitely! With such a strong presence in our daily eating habits, shouldn’t we know more about what grains actually are and why they make our favorite foods taste…

Read More
Wood-fired Pizza Oven

Winter Pizza Duo Using a Sourdough Starter

Turn any night into pizza night! This sourdough pizza holds the secret to a stress-free weeknight dinner. Make the crust ahead of time and let it rise in the fridge. By dinnertime all you’ll need to do is shape the dough, add your toppings, and bake! This excerpt is from The Occidental Arts and Ecology…

Read More

A Gift From the Gods: Blue Corn Bread

A sweet cornbread made with blue cornmeal draws on traditional Mexico and US Southwest flavors. The blue cornmeal gives its haunting flavor and lavender hue.

Read More