How to get more flavor out of dried herbs?
What is the proper way of bringing the flavor out of dry herbs like oregano and basil?
In the US I use fresh herbs to make my pizza sauce. But since I've moved to Norway they don't have any fresh herbs that even resemble the flavors that I'm used to in the US. After recreating my pizza sauce I found that sweating the herbs increased the flavor of the sauce.
Best Answer
Dry herbs are slower to release their flavors than fresh herbs; they will need extra cooking time to impart their full flavors, so add them to the dish sooner. Since they are less delicate and need the moisture, you may also want to add them along with a liquid, to help extract out the flavors. Crushing the larger-leaf herbs up a bit may also help. Use less dried herb than you would with fresh, because they are more concentrated.
Although these will help, the sad truth is that even the best-dried herbs will not have the subtle flavors of fresher ones.
Edit: One other technique you might use (if there's minimal cooking of other ingredients) is to soak them in oil for a long time to extract flavors. I would suggest an overnight soak in olive oil. You can get more flavor out if you heat the olive oil before letting it sit to soak; something like 50C/125F is a reasonable temperature to dissolve more flavor compounds, without damaging the more delicate ones.
Pictures about "How to get more flavor out of dried herbs?"
Quick Answer about "How to get more flavor out of dried herbs?"
The heat and moisture of cooking is what rehydrates and lets the flavors bloom. Speaking of blooming — DO try a quick saute of the dried herbs in oil, as this will really release more flavor. Dried herbs can stand a bit longer cooking than fresh, so you can put them in earlier in the cooking process.How do you get the most flavor out of dry herbs?
Follow these four tips to get the most flavor out of your dried herbs.Do dried herbs lose flavor?
Drying herbs is really a balance between drying them out fast enough so that they don't just sit there and rot, but at the same time not drying them so fast (meaning lots of heat and/or light) that they lose a lot of their flavor.Do dried herbs add flavor?
Dried herbs are a must for any quick cooking pantry. They add great flavor, are inexpensive, and are the perfect way to dress up almost any recipe. Dried herbs have a different flavor than fresh herbs. They are smokier and more intense.How do you refresh dried herbs?
So, if you are planning on adding the herbs to a dish after it has been plated, you may want to rehydrate them first. How exactly do you rehydrate herbs? Put the amount you want to use in a small dish, cover them with water, wait about ten minutes, and finally drain the excess water.Never Use an Oven or Dehydrator to Dry Herbs Again With This Century Old Method
More answers regarding how to get more flavor out of dried herbs?
Answer 2
When you use dried herbs, you will need to use less than fresh.
With some spices, you can bring out their flavor by toasting them, but I don't think that is the best course with herbs.
I would try heating some olive oil, and add the dried herbs, and heat gently. I think this would allow the oil to take on the flavor of the herbs, and then you could just spread this on the pizza before you add the sauce.
Answer 3
Avoid powdered herbs as they go insipid quickly.
Rub the basil/oregano flakes in one palm vigorously with the heel of the other using your recipe's salt. This will carry the flavor.
Inhale the aroma of your hands deeply before washing.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Skylar Kang, Skylar Kang, Skylar Kang, itschansy