I love cooking with fresh herbs. But keeping them fresh is hard and costly during the winter months. Dried herbs can’t provide the same burst of flavor as their fresh counterparts. But I’ve found that essential oils can. Their flavor is so concentrated, that a few drops will provide the same great flavors as fresh herbs.
My favorite essential oils to use in place of/with herbs, spices and citrus are basil, bergamot, black pepper, cilantro, cinnamon, clove bud, coriander, sweet fennel, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lime, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, roman chamomile, rosemary, thyme and wild orange.
I’m not buying those overpriced packets of thyme, rosemary and marjoram at Thanksgiving anymore! Instead, these essential oils will last for years stored in my cupboard.
Plus, I have them on hand when health issues arise that they can address. For example, I’ve used rosemary essential oil to elevate my blood pressure when feeling lightheaded. A few drops of lemon essential oil can degrease and clean a very dirty stovetop. Essential oils can do more than replace herbs. They fit into your medicine cabinet and cleaning closet as well!
Cooking Tips and Recipes:When cooking with essential oils, always use glass, ceramic or metal bowls and spoons. Many citrus essential oils will dissolve petrochemicals (a chemical made from petroleum or natural gasses that is used to make food-safe plastic). So avoid storing in or cooking with plastics when using essential oils.
Orange Rice >> Add 3-4 drops wild orange essential oil to your rice pot before adding the rice.
Flavored Water >> Add 1 drop of essential oils to your water cup or a glass or metal water bottle. Try these combinations: 1 drop each ginger and lemon, 1 drop each cinnamon and wild orange. Or simply use 1 drop peppermint essential oil for peppermint water. I love adding 1 drop of lemon essential oil to my water. It makes my tap water taste much better.
Fruit Dips >> Mix 1 cup vanilla or flavored yogurt, 1/2 cup mashed fruit (any type of berries), 2 drops lemon or lime essential oils and a drizzle of honey.
Popcorn >> Pop 1 cup of popcorn. Melt 1/4-1/2 cup butter and add 5-9 drops of essential oil. Pour over the popcorn, sprinkle with salt, and toss.
Peppermint Brownies >> Add 4 drops of peppermint essential oil to your favorite brownie batter (for an 8×8 pan – add 8 drops for a 9×13 pan).
Smoothies >> For every 4 servings (about a blender full) of smoothie add 2-3 drops of essential oil. Citrus essential oils like lemon, lime, grapefruit and wild orange will bring a fruit smoothie to life! Also try adding ginger, peppermint or cinnamon essential oil to a chocolate smoothie. Or here’s a good pumpkin smoothie adapted from a recipe on Doterrablog.com:
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie*1 cup milk (any kind works)
*1/2 cup yogurt*1/2 cup cooked, pureed pumpkin
*2 frozen bananas*2 tsp vanilla extract
*1-2 tsp pumpkin pie spice*1 drop wild orange essential oil*
*1 drop clove bud essential oil*
*1 drop cinnamon essential oil*
*1 cup icePut all the ingredients in a blender and blend! Top with whipped cream and a pinch of pumpkin pie spice. Yield: about 4 cups.
*Note: Some essential oils can drip quickly from the bottle, and even one extra drop can be overpowering. Clove and cinnamon are “hot” oils. I recommend dipping a toothpick into the oil bottle and then swirling the toothpick in the cup of milk to add the “hot” essential oils.
To simplify the recipe, doTERRA makes an essential oil blend called On Guard Protective Blend that is a mix of wild orange, clove bud, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary. You can use 2-3 drops of this blend in place of the wild orange, clove bud and cinnamon essential oils.
Essential oils will compliment any dish. Try adding them to pasta salads, spaghetti sauce, tea or snacks. Your taste buds and body will appreciate it.
I am a doTERRA Wellness Advocate. To learn more about essential oils visit www.mydoterra.com/DavinaWeinhold.