Three herbs you will be cooking with next year

Herbs can transform a dish or recipe in so many ways. Could your favorite foods be transformed by a trending herb with bold flavors?

What herbs are some of your favorite flavors to add to a recipe or dish? While one person might love a big punch of rosemary, another person might perfect the often debated cilantro. Although some flavors are always popular, food trends effect your favorite herb as well. Going into the New Year, three herbs could be featured in some of your favorite recipes and dishes.

According to Kevin Cecilio, Sodexo’s senior director of culinary innovation, he predicts that lemon verbana, savory and caraway flower will be the hot new flavors coming to the kitchen. While foodies might be familiar with many of these flavors, the budding home cook might want to explore the bold tastes that these herbs can offer.

Incorporating these food trends into a recipe isn’t too overwhelming. The key is to understand the flavors and how they work with other ingredients. Experimenting in the kitchen can help everyone how to discover these previously overlooked flavors.

Savory is considered a very pungent herb. While hot and even peppery, the herb is best used sparingly in slow cooked dishes. The long, slow cooking process helps to make the flavor develop over time.

Lemon verbena can be a lovely replacement for lemon. Whether added to tea or incorporated into a marinade or dressing, the flavor is quite delightful. Chicken and fish dishes can have an added brightness with this particular herb.

Caraway flower, specifically the white caraway flower, can be delightful in baking. Recently it was seen in some Food Network baking competitions. The flavor works well in breads and cakes. Additionally, the leaves can be added to salads or even cooked like spinach.

Could you be using any of these three herbs in your kitchen next year? Do you have a recipe that uses any of these flavors? Share your favorite recipe in the comments section or tag a photo using #FoodSided.