Content
- Which parts of the rosemary are edible?
- Use rosemary sparingly
- Is rosemary poisonous?
- Are the flowers edible?
- Tips & Tricks
Which parts of the rosemary are edible?
Most rosemary is either fresh or dried with the stew of meat, fish or vegetable dishes with cooked. The very aromatic herb has an intense, quite tart aroma that goes well with many dishes.
Use rosemary sparingly
Due to its very aromatic taste, rosemary should be used sparingly, otherwise its aroma dominates the whole dish and makes it taste too intense. You can use the herb in various ways: Whole rosemary sprigs are left to stew with the dish and then removed before serving - the rosemary stems are too hard to eat. The needles, on the other hand, you can eat without hesitation, but should be mitigated if possible. They are quite tough and therefore can be chewed bad. However, do not add ground rosemary until just before the end of cooking, as its aroma will otherwise evaporate - the smaller you cut the rosemary, the more the essential oils dissipate.
Is rosemary poisonous?
Rosemary is - like many other herbs - to a small extent toxic, so toxic. However, you would have to take quite large quantities for this, so that this poison is effective. Caution is especially important in extended rosemary baths, because these can cause after a while the opposite of what they are supposed to do: Instead of stimulating the circulation, lead to circulatory problems. In theory, you could also eat rosemary raw, but you probably will not like it in this form - the leathery leaves are quite tough. Although rosemary poisoning is quite rare, it can still cause intolerance to sensitive people.
Are the flowers edible?
Not only the leaves and young shoots of rosemary are edible, even the pretty flowers of the spice shrub can be eaten without hesitation. For example, they are great for garnishing food and other salads. Incidentally, rosemary develops the highest concentration of aromatic essential oils during its flowering season, which is why you can harvest the herb when it blooms.
Tips & Tricks
Do not be afraid if your cats like to nibble on the fragrant rosemary: The herbs are not toxic to cats or dogs. However, as is often the case here, the dose causes the poison: too much rosemary can definitely lead to intolerance reactions in pets, but has no serious consequences.
IJA