Healthy Cooking With Fresh Herbs

Herbs are fantastic! Besides giving awesome flavor to foods, they also contain many added health benefits. Take some THYME to check out what our CSB Kitchen staff has to say about the benefits and uses of herbs!


Chives
Chives are a variety of onion, and the use of onion varieties is highly encouraged as they are thought to aid in prevention of major diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

• Sprinkle over baked potatoes
• Add chopped chives to fish before serving
• Mix with salad greens – the flowers are edible too!

Mint
The mint family is one of the most useful of all medicinal herb families. They have a wide range of health benefits including preventing & relieving gas and working as a digestive aid.
• Add chopped mint a fruit salad
• Try a mint pesto on fish – mint, roasted garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, and olive oil blended in a food processor or blender
• Chew on mint leaves to naturally freshen breath

Basil
Basil has many of the same medicinal effects as other members of the mint family. Research has also shown basil to protect cell structure from radiation, leading experts to believe that it may provide important anti-cancer benefits.
• Add chopped basil to green salads or tuna salad
• Try a Caprese salad – basil leaves and fresh mozzarella on tomato slices with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
• Sprinkle chopped basil over scrambled eggs