Known as a hearty spicy addition to recipes of all kinds, lovage herb infuses by virtually all the warm and hearty cuisines. The up to two meter tall plant consists of a single stem and serrated leaves. Actually imported from southern Europe and Asia, the lovage grows without any problems in our climate. Since the late Middle Ages, records of the herb have been registered. It was used at that time mainly as medicine for snake bites and depression. Learn how to enjoy the signature aroma of this unique plant from your own harvest.
Kitchen Tips
Lovage is usually harvested in April. For seasoning, the entire plant can be used. The Maggi herb is best for seasoning fish and meat, but it can also be used to refine soups, sauces or even salad dressings. Even as a spice for baking, for example, for bread or light pastries the lovage offers real value. If you still cannot get enough, process the young shoots in a vegetable garnish or candied the cabbage stalks. Whether prepared as a pesto, with fish, or used when baking or even with quark - the aroma of the plant always unfolds to a round enjoyment, without it being too obtrusive if you dose it correctly.
It's not just the taste that speaks for itself, self-grown lovage contains essential oils with healing effects. Thus, the Maggie herb is a natural home remedy for stomach and intestinal complaints, bladder problems or heartburn. For example, when brewed in a tea, it also has a stimulating effect.
How to use Maggie herb?
First of all, it should be noted that lovage has a very strong spiciness and a particular taste. Even if the taste rounder one, there is always the risk of it being too strong for seasoning. So start with a small quantity and bring more to your dish as you cook it. With the help of a spice grinder, you can simply leave your guest to choose their own quantity of spice.
The taste can be described as slightly bitter and can be compared to that of celery. Due to the strong proximity to a well-known spice mixture, the so-called nickname was born. To differentiate the subtle taste, it helps to get to know the individual components of the plant:
The leaves: These are great for seasoning fish and meat. Either use it as a whole leaves, or incorporated into the dish. Another use for the leaves is to cook them in soups, in which the slightly bitter aroma unfolds particularly well. The stems: These are ideal as a celery substitute for a salad, or a vegetable dish. The handling is very simple – just cut them and add them to your salad as desired. The aroma unfolds particularly well in connection with tomatoes. Even to plain puree you can give a special touch with the stems. The roots: do not dispose of it! The roots have the strongest aroma. These are therefore best for clear broths, or for drying and grinding. Professionals often use the roots in sausages or even for spirits. Especially in the case of the roots: Less is often more!
Let your creativity run wild. Maggie's herb harmonizes well with cottage cheese, herbal pesto, olive oil, garlic or spring onions. Adding it to your diet will not only offer you a special taste, but it will also sooth your digestive tract. It can also be used for tea, or as fragrant bath weed. An insider's tip: the seed is a real value, it has the strongest content.
Just try it!
If you're still unsure, you can simply use Maggie's herb to season some well-established master recipes. How about a homemade vegetable stock? As a rule of thumb for the spice you can count one stalk per person. Of course, seasoning is very individual, yet the strong effect of lovage is often underestimated. Especially if you have guests who do not know the taste, caution is recommended. If you have some lovage left over and you want to reuse the spice, you can just dry the leaves off, without the risk of them losing their aroma. The roots will even develop a greater spiciness in this process. Remember to keep the dried herb airtight. Then it will have virtually unlimited lasting. Dried on air, a unique herbaceous aroma unfolds in the room, and if wished so, the dried leaves can also provide beautiful decorations.
Plant your own lovage plant!
The large plants with their thick Stems and pale yellow flowers are actually quite easy to care for, when growing them in the garden, provided that the most important points are taken into account. The size of the plant can reach up to two meters, but usually it is more like 60cm. An extension inside, or on the balcony alone is difficult because of the size of the plants and the space required (more on that later). The lovage is planted either in spring, preferably between March and April, or in a warm autumn between September and October. He can then be harvested each spring. Even a small area is sufficient for the household, because the plant can be very productive, and every bit of it can be used.
The lovage herb is quite resistant and copes well with partial shade. The basic requirements are a nutritious and, if possible, moist soil. Depending on your needs, and what you have available, it is advisable to support with a little bit of compost. Lovage needs space: you should leave a distance of at least one meter to other plants and at least half a meter to conspecifics. Otherwise, it can lead to a significant impairment for the other plants. Once a suitable place has been found in the garden, there is nothing to do but a little watering on hot days and occasional fertilizing. The herb survives up to 15 years in one place.
Lovage in your own garden?
In contrast to the purchase, growing your own is a real alternative, it is a true all-purpose herb with calming effect on the gastrointestinal tract and a unique, hearty, round aroma for the domestic kitchen. Whether you use it as an addition to the fish marinade on the summer grill, or as a special twist when baking in the winter, lovage is always a special choice. Even visually, the large shrub plant with her yellow flowers is something. The fan base for this oh so simple Maggie herb is constantly growing. Surprise your loved one with a uniquely spiced recipe with herbs from your own garden!
This offer is for untreated and GMO-free seeds which, in accordance with the EU Seed Regulation, are only intended for sale to hobby gardeners.
- Dfficulty
- Anfänger
- Country
- Österreich
- Sowing
- März
- Harvest
- Juli
- Number of grain
- 30
- Eco control number
- DE-ÖKO-039
- Country of origin
- Österreich
- Category
- Herbal Seeds
- Manufacturer
- Pepperworld