Rosemary: How to Use Rosemary in Cooking
Rosemary: How to Use Rosemary in Cooking
If there’s one herb you can recognize almost immediately by its aroma, it’s rosemary.
This fragrant culinary herb has a bold, woodsy flavor that works beautifully with roasted meats, potatoes, vegetables, breads, soups, and stews.
Because rosemary is stronger and sturdier than delicate herbs such as basil, knowing how much rosemary to use and when to add it can make a big difference.
What Is Rosemary?
Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen herb with narrow, needle-like leaves.
It’s commonly used in Mediterranean-inspired cooking and is particularly well suited to roasting and slow cooking.
Both fresh and dried rosemary can be used in the kitchen.
What Does Rosemary Taste Like?
Rosemary has a strong, aromatic, woodsy flavor often described as pine-like.
A little can go a long way.
That’s why rosemary works particularly well with ingredients that can stand up to its bold flavor.
What Foods Go With Rosemary?
Rosemary pairs beautifully with:
- Potatoes
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
- Lamb
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Bread
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Squash
- Beans
- Soups and stews
One of the easiest combinations to remember is rosemary + garlic + potatoes + olive oil.
How to Use Fresh Rosemary
Remove the leaves from the woody stem before chopping rosemary for most recipes.
Finely chop the leaves and add them to roasted potatoes, chicken, vegetables, breads, marinades, soups, or stews.
Whole sprigs can also be used to infuse flavor during cooking and removed before serving.
Can Rosemary Cook for a Long Time?
Yes.
Rosemary is a hardy herb, so it generally handles heat and longer cooking times better than delicate herbs such as basil.
That’s why it’s so useful for roasts, slow-cooked dishes, soups, stews, and roasted vegetables.
Fresh Rosemary vs. Dried Rosemary
Fresh rosemary tends to have a brighter, more aromatic quality, while dried rosemary is concentrated and convenient.
If replacing fresh rosemary with dried, use less dried rosemary to begin with and adjust according to taste.
What Can I Make With Fresh Rosemary?
Try rosemary in roasted potatoes, focaccia, roasted chicken, garlic bread, beef dishes, pork, roasted vegetables, soups, infused oils, or savory butter.
Rosemary can even work in certain cocktails, lemonades, and desserts when used carefully.
Common Culinary Herbs
Want to learn more?
Visit my Common Culinary Herbs guide to learn about basil, mint, rosemary, and other essential herbs every home cook should recognize.
