Take advantage of Herbal Remedies in your cooking

It is well known that plants and herbs provide us many medicinal benefits. Each plant has different properties and it is the edible one that, besides being able to be used to cure many illnesses and ailments, we can use to prepare delicious dishes and thus help improve our health. Knowing what is favourable or what ingredient to use can make a difference when choosing which dishes to cook and bring to the table. Learn today how introducing some herbs into your cooking could help you: 

Indian style rice with cloves

Cloves: intestinal infections, anesthetic cardiovascular system.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of rice
• 2 cups of water
• 2 Cloves
• 2 cardamoms
• 1/4 tsp. of cumin
• 1/2 Onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1/4 tsp. of turmeric
• 1 tsp. of butter
• Salt (sufficient amount)

Preparation

1. Wash the rice to remove excess starch, place under running water until the water runs clear, drain and reserve.
2. Place rice in a saucepan with water and add some spices (cloves, cardamom seeds and salt) to cook with.
3. Boil the rice and lower the heat to finish cooking – The rice should be soft.
4. Heat a teaspoon of butter with a little oil in a pan; add the previously threaded or finely chopped onion.
5. Add the rice and sauté lightly.
6. Add the remaining spices (turmeric, garlic and cumin) to the rice.
7. Season to taste and, if necessary, add more spice to the final dish.

Fish skewers with Jamaican sauce

Jamaican flowers: For digestive, diuretic and laxative problems.

Ingredients

For the kebabs

• 350g of Grilled fish (sea bass)
• 1 Onion
• 1 red pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes
• Salt (sufficient amount)
• 3 tbsp. of oil
• Black pepper
• sticks to skewer

For the sauce

• 1 cup of Jamaican flower
• 2 cups of water
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• Olive oil
• 2 tbsp. of Lemon juice
• Salt & Pepper (sufficient amount)

Preparation

For the kebabs

1. Cut the fish fillets into regular cubes about 1.5 cm or bite size. Place the fish in a pan, add a tablespoon of oil and season with salt and pepper.
2. Cut the red peppers in the same way, first removing the seeds, and place in a bowl.
3. Slice the onion into quarters or bite-sized chunks.
4. Place the onion in a bowl, along with the cherry tomatoes and peppers.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper and mix lightly to flavor vegetables.
6. Take skewer sticks in water to moisten and alternate inserting pieces of vegetables and fish onto the skewer.
7. Place on the grill and cook until the fish and vegetables are cooked.
8. Serve with Jamaican sauce.

For Sauce Jamaica

1. Boil the water and add flower of Jamaica leaves to infuse for 10-15 minutes.
2. Strain and pour into a pan with hot oil.
3. Add the sugar and let the sauce reduce until thickened.
4. Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Lavender Biscuits

Lavender: soothing and cleansing properties.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of milk
• 2 tbsp. of Lavender flower
• 2 cups of Wheat
• 1 ½ tbsp. of Baking Powder
• 1/4 tsp. of salt
• 1/2 cup of Whipping cream or cream
• 1 cup of sugar
• 90g of butter
• 3 eggs

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven at 180°C.
2. Mix the dry ingredients (salt, flour and baking powder) in a bowl and sift.
3. Infuse the milk with dehydrated lavender flowers and let stand for 20 minutes.
4. Cream butter with sugar and add eggs little by little.
5. Add cream and milk to the butter and egg mixture.
6. Add flour and whisk lightly until blended.
7. Pour into a greased and floured pan.
8. Bake at 180°C for 30 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

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