Fresh or Dried.....that is the question!

Someone once asked me, "Is there really a difference between using fresh or dry herbs/spices?".

The answer: YES!!!!

If and when you can I do suggest using fresh herb and spice. Note: I said IF and WHEN you can.

Using fresh herbs and spices can really change a dish. When you take a bite you smell it, taste it, and can visualize it when you close your eyes to take that warm bite of food. Mmmmm.... Don't believe me? Try it. Tell me I'm wrong. Using fresh ingredients always makes your dish taste better, in my book. Using fresh ingredients can turn your traditional dish into a Top Chef meal.

That being said..... It can be difficult at times using fresh product. Cilantro, for example, always comes in a bushel. Now, cilantro is a very strong herb, especially when you dice it up. The aroma will fill your kitchen in seconds. Now, unless you plan on having Mexican every night of the week, what are you going to do with the rest!?!?! At least fresh cilantro is generally less than $1.

I don't know about you, but I have a whole cabinet devoted to spices, herbs, and mixtures of sorts. It's so much easier to have dried and pre-ground on hand. However, I know that when I use them I give up flavor. It's a flip of the coin.

Rule of thumb for fresh vs dried when an ingredient calls for one and you have the other:

1 teaspoon of dried herb = 1 tablespoon of fresh herb

As always, flavor to taste. If you have a fresh container of dried herb, that will be more flavorful than an old container.

If you're grinding your spices instead of using pre-ground you may want to use a little less than what the recipe calls for. Freshly ground are more flavorful than pre-ground.

Next time you go to cook a meal look to see if you can use anything fresh. Next time you're at the supermarket see how much fresh herbs and spices are going for. Go ahead....make your family's eyes pop.