A friend of mine likes to ask this fun getting-to-know-you question: what is your desert island herb? Basil, parsley, cilantro, thyme? Which fresh herb is the one you can't live or cook without?
Without a doubt, I'd pick cilantro. Like a squeeze of lemon or lime, its flavor brightens any dish and for me, there is really no substitute. Ironically, I lived for two years virtually cilantro-free on an island — Japan, where the taste of cilantro is almost universally hated. I wouldn't want to do it again.
Yes, I'd probably miss basil or parsley if I wanted to cook up a batch of pasta, or thyme if I wanted to make a French lentil salad, but I'd be even sadder if I had a plate of rice and chana masala without a healthy sprinkling of cilantro on top.
So what's your pick? Which fresh herb could you never live without?
Related: Quick Guide to Every Herb and Spice in the Cupboard
(Image: Flickr member Qfamily licensed under Creative Commons)
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basil in the summer, rosemary in the winter!
Rosemary, in a heartbeat. (It'd make all that fish delicious, especially if there's a lemon tree on that island too)
Thyme, for sure.
Definitely basil, I put it in everything...
Chives!
Hands down, no matter what the number one herb I cook with. So much so I planted as much of it as I could in my garden so I'm never without (need to start drying some for winter actually!)
Its so fresh, adds color and a pop of kind of garlicky kind of oniony mildness to everything. It's so often overlooked.
I couldn't normally live without basil! But If I'm cooking with island cuisine (fish, tropical fruit, etc), I'd pick cilantro instead (fish tacos with mango salsa, what what!).
This is a difficult question! I can't narrow it down to one, but I'd go with rosemary or basil.
Oh man. My initial reaction is to say basil (because what is life like without caprese salad?!). But in the winter, when I don't have a basil plant, I go many weeks without basil. Cilantro, on the other hand, is a constant companion in my house. It's one of those herbs I buy each week during grocery shopping and that I put in a huge number of dishes. So. Yeah. Cilantro, I guess!
it's funny how many answers are basil (myself included), but a few weeks ago the article on how small town groceries suck (author wrote about not finding fresh basil) got so many criticisms for saying basil is a "staple" ingredient...
gaaah it's sooo good though!!
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/small-town-survival-when-the-grocery-store-sucks-150649
No question: cilantro!!
Do I really have to choose between cilantro and basil???
Hmm...in the sense of what I use most often: cilantro. In the sense of what one herb I would enjoy most if I could only ever have one herb the rest of my days: Asian basil.
I've gotta say I'm really shocked by all the cilantro lovers on here.
I;m not sure the odds, but theres so many who's taste buds just don't react well to the aldehydes in cilantro and it tastes terrible to them I fall into the "tastes like earwax/soap" group and so wish I could taste what all these people rave about. One leaf in some salsa and I'm gagging.
basil just barely beats cilantro for me. oh basil. i love you so.
caprese salads
caprese sandwiches
pesto
bruschetta
I need basil. Of course it's a staple.
What, no parsley!!!?!?! Y'all would seriously forgo PARSLEY??!!
I was going to say basil. But chives are indeed an excellent desert island choice, with the added benefit of being all but unkillable.
I'm taking chives, basil, AND parsley. I'll be leading raids on your thyme. You can keep your cilantro.
Parsley!
I'd especially miss thyme. And mint. It surprises me that no one has mentioned mint.
the only herb i ALWAYS have fresh is cilantro. Love the fresh flavor and its very versatile and works in many dishes - indian, asian, latin america. I guess you either love it or you hate it.
Scallions, for sure. Or do they not count as herbs?
Thyme. Use it in just about everything.
oh my what a hard question!
I love tarragon so much i think i would go with that.
I hope they have chickens on this desert island!
thyme. Delicate and lovely thyme. Improves eggs, chicken, popovers, ice creme, iced tea, marinated goat cheese, frozen in ice cubes for lemonade,
and looks so pretty tucked into a bouquet of flowers. Definitely thyme.
Cilantro. I go though at least one bunch a week. It is so weird to me that people hate it! I can't live without it. Plus, if I was on a island I would probably be eating a lot of ceviche. If Tom Hanks can go crazy trying to start a fire in Cast Away, I won't stand a chance.
For the folks who think cilantro tastes like soap - it's a genetic thing. Can't get around it.
thyme. it's equally amazing in sweet and savory dishes.
AHHH can't decide between basil or parsley??
Love this post :)
xo, LEH
Oregano!!!
Love basil, but can't live without cilantro!
Basil for me. I'd miss it in my Italian dishes and in my lemon sorbet. Yuuuuum!
Basil! It even makes beer taste amazing!
Second is definitely rosemary, especially now that I have resuscitated the plant my coworker gave me and it's all big and bushy.
Parsley needs some love here!! It's the most versatile herb, at least among the recipes on my go-to list, and it's useful from root-to-tip.
I do believe that Lavendar would be my choice
because it can be used in chicken, soup, vinaigrette, cream brulee, scones etc.
xo Miss Moe
Garlic.
Useful for cooking, disinfecting, colds/flu, and a natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral etc., garlic would be my can't-live-without herb, hands down.
I'm with the Japanese - cilantro is probably my least favorite. So soapy! I have to go with basil, though dill is a close second.
this is the first i am hearing of people thinking cilantro tastes like soap. never heard anyone object to it.
Ginger!
Or garlic...
GingerCilantroMintScallionsRosemaryThymeParsleyFennelLavenderGarlicDillOreganoBasilTarragon
Yep.That pretty much sums it up.
I couldn't live without cilantro. I love it! The herb-love that surprises me most is parsley. I mean, I use it and I like it, but I could be perfectly happy living without it...I think it kind of just tastes like grass.
Mint or cilantro. I don't know which one I'd pick. Milantro?
Sage! I put it (or homemade sage butter) in so many things that I make on a regular basis.
I could easily live without herbs... most of them I hate. But if I had to choose it would be oregano- its one that I finally actually ADDS flavour to a dish rather than detracts with its taste
adamwa: The first time I heard of the genetic, taste bud anomaly with cilantro was from Ina Garten's show. Apparently the Barefoot Contessa has it too! She said it tastes like soap.
I think of cilantro (or coriander leaf as we call it in South Africa) as a savoury equivalent to mint - same fresh feeling. Do those who dislike cilantro also dislike Early Grey tea? I know people who think it also tastes like soap.
I think I'd go with oregano. I don't use herbs often, but oregano goes with all the dishes I usually make for dinner parties.
mint. mint mint.
Pfft. Cilantro
Miiiiiiiint.
Oh, it's a toss up between cilantro and basil. If I'm on a tropical desert island... cilantro. But, if it's a Mediterranean desert island... basil.