Herbal highlight: 3 delicious rosemary recipes to try

Herbal highlight: 3 delicious rosemary recipes to try

Rosemary, a fragrant herb, belongs to the mint family like many other healthy herbs such as basil, oregano and thyme. It is a rich source of powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, vitamin B6 and calcium. In addition to its culinary uses, rosemary is also known for its health benefits, including improving memory, relieving muscle pain, relieving indigestion, strengthening the circulatory and immune systems, promoting hair growth, and reducing the risk of certain cancers.

So if you have rosemary in stock, try these delicious dishes for dinner:

Apple and Rosemary Pork Offerings

What you need:

• 1 1/4 kg. Pork tenderloin

• 1 1/2 cups apple cider

• 3/4 cup maple syrup

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 3 apples, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 large onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 5 tablespoons brown sugar

• 4 teaspoons dried rosemary

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

• Purified water

Place the pork tenderloin in a large container. Mix rosemary, marjoram, thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub mixture evenly over pork, then pour apple cider over top. Add purified water to completely submerge the meat. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours, up to overnight. When ready, place the tenderloin in a roasting pan, pour the marinade over it, and bake in a preheated oven (325 F) for 1 hour. Scatter apple and onion pieces over the roast and add brown sugar evenly over the pan. Return the roast to the oven and cook for another hour. To make the sauce, cook the flour in a pan until brown. Add drippings from drippings and maple syrup and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture has thickened. Serve roast with sauce.

Creamy pea and rosemary soup

What you need:

• 1 3/4 cup chicken broth

• 1 1/2 cups green peas

• 1 carrot, chopped

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 leek, thinly sliced

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 2 bay leaves

• 6 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon pieces until crispy. Add carrot, onion, leek, and garlic and cook until vegetables are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add chicken broth, peas, bay leaves and rosemary and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or while cooking peas. Serve warm.

Ham casserole with rosemary

What you need:

• 1kg. cooked ham, diced

• 5 eggs

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 4 cups purified water

• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 1/2 cups milk

• 1 cup of grains

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Place cooked ham in a baking dish and set aside. Bring water to a boil in a medium-sized pot and then pour grits into the water. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring constantly, for about 4-5 minutes or when the grains are thick and tender. Stir in the cheese and butter with the seeds. Remove from heat and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper and mix mixture with semolina. Pour grits over ham and bake in a preheated oven (350 F) for 40 to 45 minutes or until casserole is bubbly.

Ditch your rosemary chicken for a while and try these delicious rosemary recipes instead!