The majority of people use lavender, which has a flavor that is somewhat sweet and tart, to create flowery smells. However, this fragrant herb may also be used to produce recipes that are salty and delectable.
The lavender used in cooking has undergone intensive cleaning to eliminate any blossoms, leaves, stems, and dust. As a result, it is fully safe to use in food and serve in beverages.
What kinds of foods go well with lavender? The meals are given a delightfully sweet taste and color when other dishes are paired with lavender as an ingredient. To add a unique flavor to your dishes, try using lavender in its fresh, dried, or even frozen forms.
This specific herb blends well with other spices such as oregano, thyme, and rosemary. In addition, baked items like cakes, cookies, scones, and shortbread all benefit from the use of lavender since it provides an immediate improvement.
In addition, it pairs nicely with a variety of meats, including cattle, lamb, chicken, rabbit, duck, and steak, among others. On the other hand, savory meals may only be made with a very little quantity of the herb; otherwise, it would taste like you are chewing on a bar of soap.
The flavor of lavender is rather unique, and it has a flowery aroma that has a touch of rosemary and mint thrown in for good measure. As a consequence of this, it is the ideal seasoning to use throughout the spring.
This post is loaded with professional recommendations that will help you combine dishes with lavender. If you have simply been using lavender as a refresher or sometimes in baked products, then you will find this article really helpful. The following provides answers to some of the most often asked questions about foods that pair well with lavender in terms of flavor.
Contents
What flavor goes with lavender?
The taste of lavender is complex and unique, making it an excellent complement to a wide range of other flavors. It is recommended that you use it in savory meals that are not baked products or sweets only in very small amounts since it has a flowery scent.
The following are some tastes that have been deemed by chefs to go well with lavender:
- lavender + cream + sugar
- lavender + meat + salt
Your dinner will have a more robust taste as a result of the addition of lavender to thyme, rosemary, oregano, and thyme, all of which are fragrant spices.
In addition, lavender pairs nicely with a variety of drinks. The monotony of drinking regular tea may be broken up by adding a few fresh sprigs of lavender flowers, which provide a reviving quality to the beverage and give it a unique flavor.
An further alternative is to use fresh lavender into syrups, sauces, and soups since the fragrance of fresh lavender will entice everyone to gather around the dinner table.
What food goes well with lavender?
The use of lavender flowers as a garnish on desserts and other dishes may really elevate the overall taste profile of the dish. Baked goods flavored with dried lavender have a perfume that is richer and more luxurious, as well as a gorgeous hue that is scattered throughout.
The following are some examples of cuisine ingredients that pair well with lavender:
- Nuts: almonds, pistachios, walnuts
- Cheese and Dairy: crème fraîche, custards, ricotta, mascarpone, milk, cream, ice cream
- Vegetable: ginger, onions, potatoes, rhubarb, vanilla
- Herb: rosemary, thyme, marjoram, oregano, parsley, spearmint.
- Fruits: fig, lemon
- Black tea
- Honey
What meat goes well with lavender?
When it comes to foods that go well with lavender, the idea could at first seem weird or unappetizing. However, lavender and meat are a delicious combination. Nevertheless, the minute amount used may significantly improve the scent of the savory dish.
The following cuts of meat are particularly recommended for pairing with lavender:
- chicken
- duck
- rabbit
- game birds: pheasants, partridges, turkey, grouse, squab, wood pigeon, emu, ostrich, guinea fowl, quail, and geese.
Pork, in addition to the more traditional chicken, is another meat that pairs nicely with lavender. Before placing pork chops on a grill over an open flame, give them a coating of dried lavender to impart an appealing scent.
Lamb chops may be made into a once-in-a-lifetime supper by rubbing them with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and lavender before cooking them. The roasted lamb takes on a more inviting fragrance from the lavender, which also enhances its flavor.
What fruit goes well with lavender?
In general, lemon and other citrus fruits pair very well with lavender. The addition of this herb, which has a pleasant aroma, transforms regular lemonade into a unique beverage with undertones of both refreshment and relaxation.
You should definitely take into consideration the following kind of fruit when pairing lavender with food:
- Pome fruit: apples
- Berries: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, black currants
- Stone fruits: cherries, peaches, plums
- Citrus fruits: lemon, orange
- Flower fruits: fig, hibiscus
In the role of dessert, lavender goes well with orange and apple. A dessert of orange-infused lavender cream may really brighten your day.
Lavender has a flavor that pairs nicely not just with citrus fruits but also with sweet and sour fruits. An fantastic suggestion for a midafternoon snack, a sweet dessert, or a thirst-quenching beverage is to combine berries like blueberries with the scent of lavender.
Conclusion
Lavender is a magical flowering plant that can be eaten, and its addition to any cuisine, whether it be savory or sweet, may completely transform the dish. However, it would be beneficial if you utilized lavender in a restrained manner since using too much of it might make the cuisine taste harsh.
In addition to having a pleasant flavor, the brightly colored herb dresses up your meal by providing it a lovely and alluring appearance.
This herb has a taste that is somewhere between sweet and sour, and it blends nicely with other spices like rosemary, thyme, and oregano. In particular, lavender and rosemary are wonderful additions to baked items like butter cakes, cookies, and other treats.
In addition, the flavor of meat, particularly poultry and game birds like quail, complements the earthy fragrance of lavender quite well.
However, take care not to use too much of it since it has the potential to be overpowering and may damage the flavor with a perfume essence that tastes like soap if there is too much of it.
Lavender may provide a desired sweetness when combined with the appropriate quantity of cream and sugar, and it can produce a deep savory flavor when combined with meat and salt.
When it comes to the pairing of fruits with lavender, blueberries and lemon are two of the best options. Because of this, lemonade is one of the most well-known beverages that pairs well with lavender.
Lavender may be mixed with a wide variety of dishes to provide a flavor that is distinct, delicate, and flowery. Some examples are almonds and honey, cheese and veggies. You may use lavender in a variety of different ways in the kitchen if you learn how to combine it with other flavors in the right way.
FAQs
What is the best way to consume lavender?
The most typical method in which lavender is taken is in the form of a tea made from the flower buds of the plant. Tea made from lavender buds is an effective method for releasing the essential oils and aromas of the herb. There have been a few limited studies that point to the possibility that breathing its aroma might contribute to improved sleep.
What vegetables taste good with lavender?
Chamomile, lettuce, brassicas, onions, tomatoes, oregano, thyme, marjoram, sage, rosemary, basil, lemon balm, and squash all benefit from the presence of lavender in their immediate environments.
How do you prepare lavender to eat?
You will need to either ground the buds, which works well for incorporating them into sugar, or steep them in a liquid and filter them (like in simple syrup or honey). 1 part fresh lavender buds Equals 1/3 part dried buds. Herbes de Provence is a mixture of potent herbs that often includes rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lavender. Lavender is frequently used in this blend.
Can you eat straight lavender?
Yes, you can eat lavender! Lavender, like rosemary and thyme, is a kind of herb, and it may be used to flavor a wide variety of foods, beverages, and accompaniments.
Can lavender be eaten raw?
Both the blossoms and the leaves may be consumed, and both have a taste that is sweet yet with a hint of bitterness.
What is lavender best paired with?
The floral, almost candy-like taste of lavender pairs well with a wide variety of meals, both sweet and savory. Ingredients such as strawberries, blueberries, pears, lemon, orange, honey, sage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, black pepper, and chocolate pair well with lavender.