When it comes to the best rosemary for cooking, it depends on your personal preferences and how much time you’re willing to spend. Some people like the tangy flavor of fresh rosemary, while others like the woody aroma. Both of these herb varieties are suitable for cooking and are excellent choices for barbecue. Regardless of your preference, you should use the right kind to get the best results. The most common types of rosemary are Italian, French, and Spanish.
Rosemary Nutrition Facts
What Is Rosemary?
Like oregano, thyme, basil, and lavender, Rosemary belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae, which also includes oregano, thyme, basil, and lavender. The herb is not only delicious in meals like rosemary chicken and lamb, but it’s also high in iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6. Teas and liquid extracts are manufactured from fresh or dried leaves, and it is usually prepared as a whole dried herb or a dried powdered extract. On the internet, you may buy a variety of rosemary items. The herb’s medicinal benefits have been praised since ancient times. Rosemary has been used for centuries to relieve muscle discomfort, improve memory, strengthen the immune and circulatory systems, and encourage hair development.
Rosemary For Cooking
Here is some quality rosemary for cooking:
Badia Rosemary Leaves
Features:
McCormick Culinary Dried Rosemary Leaves
Features:
- McCormick Culinary Rosemary Leaves feature a fresh, bittersweet flavor and a signature, pine-woody aroma; careful global sourcing ensures every product delivers a pure and consistent flavor.
- Explicitly sourced for chefs, these dried rosemary leaves are thoughtfully selected to ensure added visual appeal and premium quality, and they pair well with many other spices and seasonings.
- Natural Ingredients: McCormick Culinary Rosemary Leaves are kosher and contain no added MSG for a balanced flavor, so you can feel confident using them to season dishes for all your guests
- Our 6-ounce size is just right to have on hand for back-of-house recipe customization; the container’s convenient split lid allows you to dispense as little or as much rosemary seasoning as you like
HQOExpress Organic Rosemary Leaf
Features:
- 100% USDA Certified Organic Organic Rosemary Leaf – 7 oz. Chef Jar
- Quality Since 1977 – Non-GMO – Kosher – Gluten Free
- Sustainably Farmed Grown Herbicide & Pesticide Free
- Flavor Profile – Highly Aromatic, Pungent Evergreen
- Origins – Argentina, Egypt, Morocco, Peru, Spain, Turkey
Simply Organic Whole Rosemary Leaf
Features:
- Pungent, herbaceous, fresh rosemary leaves (Rosmarinus officinalis) are a great addition to your recipes. Our rosemary has an earthy taste and aroma with pine-like notes, perfect for chicken, pork, and salmon. Use this herb to enhance your roasted potatoes and stuffings, too.
- Pure, whole rosemary leaves are helpful for various purposes, especially cooking. While they can be used on their own, rosemary goes well with other herbal blends, including sage and thyme for stuffing, meat rubs, and herb blends (think herb butter for veggies and crusty bread).
- Our rosemary sourcing partner in Spain shares our values for helping their community and furthering sustainable agriculture, as well as providing delicious, high-quality herbs and spices. Suitable for the Earth, good for people, and good for you.
- Simply Organic believes in pure and potent flavor grown at the source, and our rigorous standards mean we know precisely what you’re getting and from where. All of our products are grown and processed without using toxic pesticides, irradiation, or GMOs.
Gel Spice Rosemary Spice Leaves
Features:
- A good fiber, calcium, and iron source, Rosemary adds earthy goodness to soups, stews, bread, and roasted meats and vegetables.
- Rosemary infusions and extracts are used in natural cleaners. The dried herb also lends its aromatic qualities to incense and potpourri blends.
- Aromatic and Gourmet
- Large Commercial Size 32 oz Jar
- All-Natural – Certified OU Kosher
For cooking, use the leaves of the Hill Hardy or Salem variety. The latter is cold-tolerant and will grow to about 10 feet tall, and the latter is more drought-resistant and is a good choice for colder climates. There are slight differences in flavor among the different varieties, but the taller the stems, the more intense the flavors. To get the best flavor from your rosemary, make sure you choose a variety that grows vertically rather than a bushy one.
Benefits Of Rosemary
Rosemary has several health benefits:
Antioxidants & Anti-Inflammatory Compounds
Rosemary is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals, which promote blood circulation and stimulate the immune system. According to laboratory research, rosemary is high in antioxidants, which help to neutralize damaging particles known as free radicals.
Improve Digestion
Rosemary is commonly used to relieve dyspepsia in Europe. In reality, rosemary has been certified by Germany’s Commission E to treat dyspepsia. However, it should be noted that there is currently no credible scientific data to back up this assertion.
Enhance Memory & Concentration
The perfume of rosemary can increase a person’s concentration, performance, speed, and accuracy, as well as mood, according to research published in Therapeutic Advances in PsychopharmacologyTrusted Source.
Neurological Protection
Rosemary has been discovered to be beneficial to the brain by scientists. It includes a carnosic acid compound, which can protect the brain from free radical damage. Rosemary is beneficial to patients who have had a stroke in several animal experiments. It appears to be protective against brain damage and may aid recovery rested Source.
Prevent Brain Aging & Cancer
According to several investigations, rosemary may greatly aid in preventing brain aging. A reliable source The medicinal potential of rosemary for Alzheimer’s disease prevention seems promising, but additional research is needed.
“Crude ethanolic rosemary extract (RO)” reduced the spread of human leukemia and breast cancer cells, according to research published in Oncology ReportsTrusted Source. Another study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and BiochemistryTrusted Source indicated that rosemary might be used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent. In addition, adding rosemary extract to ground beef lowers the production of cancer-causing chemicals that can emerge during cooking, according to a study published in the Journal of Food Science.
Downsides Of Rosemary
Rosemary is generally safe in small doses. On the other hand, extreme excessive doses can cause significant side effects, albeit this is uncommon.
Side effects include:
- Vomiting
- Spasms
- Coma
- Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
Due to the risk of miscarriage from high dosages of rosemary, it is not recommended for pregnant women to consume any supplemental rosemary.
Rosemary can affect the activity of some medications, including:
Anticoagulant Drugs
Warfarin, aspirin, and clopidogrel are examples of blood-thinning drugs.
ACE Inhibitors
These are pills that are used to treat high blood pressure. Lisinopril (Zestril), fosinopril (Monopril), captopril (Capoten), and enalapril (Enalapril) are some of them (Vasotec).
Diuretics
Hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide are two drugs that increase urine output (Lasix).
Lithium
This treats manic depressive episodes. Rosemary can function as a diuretic, causing lithium levels in the body to rise to dangerous levels.
Conclusion
The common rosemary is best for cooking and is a popular culinary herb. Its leaves and stems are edible and are used in many dishes. Rosemary is often used as a seasoning. It is an excellent choice for chicken, lamb, pork, and even poultry. It is an excellent addition to salads and typical dishes. All varieties of rosemary are edible, but the flavor varies. If you’re unsure which variety is suitable for your tastes; it’s easy to substitute other herbs.
