We all know that seasonings, herbs and spices can either make or break a dish–so it’s
always worth knowing which ones can “make the dish” and increase the taste of your
favorite foods–and which ones to absolutely avoid.
Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, dill and mint can bring powerful new tastes to
your palate.
Why not try them with your dressings, soups, stews and vegetables to enhance taste?
Are You Relying on Salt to Season Your Food?
Using herbs and spices properly is also an excellent way to reduce your use of salt.
Unfortunately, salt is the most common ingredient used in cooking.
It acts as a preservative, a way to counteract the sweetness of a dish, and honestly
it just satisfies our taste buds because it enhances the flavor of food.
Everybody loves that extra pinch…or tablespoon…of salt, but, too much salt (yes,
it’s possible!) can lead to several diseases, with high blood pressure being the most common.
For people with high blood pressure, kidney issues, obesity and heart problems, eating too
much salt can be a major issue.
The best way to bring your salt intake back into acceptable limits is to reduce or eliminate
it from your diet.
You probably won’t be able to go cold turkey, but you can work to reduce it one week at a time.
If you need to, or are choosing to, decrease the amount of salt that goes into your food, consider
using herbs that you likely already have in your kitchen as a substitute.
6 Herbs To Help You Use Less Salt
One of the things people fail to realize is that eating healthy does not have to be misery.
In fact, all we really want from our food is flavor.
This is true whether one is dieting for weight loss or simply trying to prevent disease
through a healthy diet.
So, if that extra pinch of salt is important to you then take a look at the six herbs below
that can be used to replace salt and add healthy flavor to food–then go experiment!
Dill
Dill is a slightly sour herb that can be easily paired with other herbs/spices to create
a one of a kind flavor for your meals.
Consider pairing dill with a sweeter herb such as thyme in order to achieve a nice
balance of sweet and sour.
Dill can be used in the form of a leaf or in a crushed/dried form, it all depends on
what you prefer.
Thyme
Thyme is a great alternative to salt because it comes in several flavor varieties
including lemon and orange.
There is a slight salty undertone to thyme, but you also get the bonus of added flavor.
Thyme has a slightly sweet flavor as well and is best used in combination with parsley,
oregano and rosemary.
Thyme blends nicely with roasted vegetables.
Allspice
Allspice is a common herb blend amongst several cultures.
There is no real “flavor” of allspice; the herb tastes like a blend of juniper, nutmeg,
peppercorn, and cinnamon.
However, it actually comes from a dried berry found in Jamaica.
The variety of flavors that we taste with allspice makes it a great substitute for salt
because it can add a unique flavor to your dishes and draw out the flavors of the
dish itself.
Mint
Mint is a commonly used herb that comes in a variety of strengths.
You can choose a mint leaf that will give a slight kick or a mint leaf that will change up
the entire flavor of your meal.
Mint also comes in several different flavor combinations.
You can purchase flavors like chocolate mint and orange-mint in your local grocery store.
These flavors work great in pastas, in baking and in salads.
Chives
Chives are an age-old source of added flavor and it is widely used among several
different cultures.
Chives add a hit of onion to your dish and they already have natural salt content
within them.
Chives are perfect for potato soup, vegan chili, or a vegetable stew.
They are also great in small amounts, such as, on chicken or in your potatoes.
Oregano
Oregano is an Italian spice that works best with pasta dishes or added onto pizza!
Due to the spice’s potency and spicy undertones, the herb is an excellent substitute
for salt.
For an added kick, combine oregano with basil, thyme and/or parsley.
In short…
There is really no need to add a ton of salt to your meals in order to enhance the flavor
or to get that salty kick you crave–just get creative with herbs!
See some wonderful tips for cooking with herbs below…
The Herb Guide to Cooking Vegan – Infographic
There are lots of herbs that can help you add unique flavors to your dishes and still
keep the salty undertones you desire.
Also fresh herbs tend to be more flavorful and luscious than dried varieties, so
try use fresh whenever you can.
Are you ready for more amazing ways to use enhance the flavor of foods with herbs?
Check out the “the ultimate herb guide for cooking vegan dishes” below–created
by Chadwicks.
This comprehensive guide illustrates which ingredients really complement each herb,
which oils are best to use with them, the complementary herbs and spices you can add
with the herb and some great recipe ideas.
For example, are you thinking about how you can implement mint into your dish?
Well, according to the guide, mint will go great with peas and aubergines in a tasty
fruit or vegetable salad, with a few chili peppers added for an extra infusion of taste.
Plus, we learn that walnut oil will pair nicely with mint.
This handy reference may help you learn to cook with some herbs you’ve never known
how to use before–and add delectable flavors to your favorite dishes in the process.
Take some time to experiment with these herbs and decide which flavor combinations
you like the most!
You’ll be glad you did!
Infographic courtesy of Chadwicks
Which herbs do you use most often in your home?
Do you have any other suggestions for cooking with herbs?
Please share your thoughts and comments with us.
Thank you for this post. I love learning that something I enjoy is also healthy. Years ago, I was in the market looking at spices and herbs. There was an elderly woman nearby and she started talking about all the herbs she uses. Evidently, her husband was quite ill (heart disease) and she was told to use more herbs. She did and years later her husband was in very good health. His heart disease was cured and he maintains excellent health. She was convinced that it was her use of herbs because she made no other changes. I was sold. And what a delicious way to stay healthy. Here’s another tip … while it’s not an herb, lemon juice will help us reduce salt … it actually makes foods taste salty without any added salt.
WOW! So glad to have found your Blog. I eat mostly a plant based diet and this is perfect information for me. Thank you for a great post and for a very well designed and informative site!
Kimberly
FiftyJewels.com
Great and helpful information – thank you for sharing! You may have inspired me to start another herb garden. 🙂
Whenever I add fresh herbs, it makes the simplest dish that much fresher, that much better. And, I love how beautiful it makes the food look, too. After all, we do eat with our eyes. And, they pack such a punch of nutrients for our body as well. Great post!
Thank you so much for this. I really enjoy cooking with herbs but get confused with what goes with what. This will be a big help to me and this year I’m going to start my very own herb garden. I’m so excited about it! Pinned and shared.
Love this infographic! Pinned – thank you!
Thanks for this very informative and useful guide to herbs and cooking with them. I think herbs are something every one should be using in there recipes – they add so much flavor and have so many health benefits. Thanks for sharing on Real food Fridays. Pinned & twitted.
What a handy dandy guide! Thanks for sharing this over at Healthy Vegan Fridays =) I have recently fallen into a bit of a bad salt habit – something I never used to do! Not sure how I picked it up, but can break it with these herbs.
Great and informative post! I really need all the help I can in the kitchen. Growing herbs is a pleasure but knowing how to use them is not my field. So this is of use to me and very well-needed help for me to advance in the kitchen. I pinned this. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!