Herbs add diverse flavor and nutrition to foods but not every herb is compatible with every culinary dish. Some herbs have a strong flavor profile while others are more delicate, and either can under or overwhelm your recipes. Knowing which herbs complement which ingredients helps you use them with confidence to accent your favorite foods.
List of Complementary Herbs
The following chart lists popular foods and some of the herbs that complement them. To use the chart, scan the left column to find a food and use the right column to identify which herbs are compatible.
| Foods | Complementary Herbs |
| Baked Goods (cookies, muffins, cakes) | Anise, edible chamomile flowers (to decorate cakes), lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, mint, poppy seed |
| Beans | Coriander, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mint, parsley, oregano, rosemary, savory |
| Beef | Basil, bay, chervil, garlic, oregano, parsley, savory, tarragon |
| Breads | Basil, caraway, chives, dill, garlic chives, lavender, lemon balm, lavender, mint, poppy seed, rosemary, sage, thyme |
| Carrots | Chives, dill, ginger, parsley, rosemary, thyme |
| Corn | Basil, coriander, dill, mint, oregano, parsley |
| Eggs | Celery, chervil, chives, dill, fennel, parsley, saffron, savory, sorrel, tarragon, thyme |
| Fish and Seafood | Basil, bay, celery, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, lemon balm, lemon grass, marjoram, oregano, parsley, savory, sorrel, tarragon, thyme |
| Fruit | Basil, lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary |
| Green Salads | Arugula, basil, chamomile flowers, chives, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic chives, lavender, lemon verbena, parsley, sorrel, watercress |
| Herb Butters | Basil, chives, garlic chives, lemon balm, oregano, parsley, tarragon, thyme |
| Lamb | Coriander, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, saffron, thyme |
| Pasta | Basil, bay, chives, coriander, garlic, garlic chives, lemon balm, oregano, parsley, sage, turmeric |
| Peas | Garlic, mint, parsley, rosemary, savory, thyme |
| Pork | Fennel, ginger, oregano, rosemary, sage, sorrel |
| Potatoes | Chervil, chives, dill, marjoram, parsley, sage, tarragon, thyme |
| Poultry | Basil, cayenne, chervil, coriander, ginger, lemon verbena, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme |
| Rice | Chilies, chives, coriander, dill, ginger, parsley, rosemary, saffron, tarragon, turmeric, thyme |
| Salad Dressings | Basil, chives, dill, garlic, ginger, lemon balm, oregano, parsley |
| Spinach | Cardamom, garlic, mint, nutmeg, tarragon |
| Squash | Basil, chives, parsley, sage, tarragon |
| Tofu | Basil, chives, dill, garlic, ginger, parsley |
Add Flair to Your Foods
Herbs enhance the flavor of foods that might otherwise be bland and boring. Experiment with different herbal combinations to create your signature dish. Fresh herbs bring the most intense flavor to the table, but dried herbs can be used when fresh are not available.
Keep in mind that for herbs, a little goes a long way. When adding them to a recipe, start on the scanty side and gradually increase the amount to taste.
