The Thyme Has Come!

Riverford Veg Box and Thyme

This week in our seasonal and organic vegetable box we received our first Thyme of the season. We also grow it in our herb bed and thus we have an abundance of Thyme on our hands at the moment. However, you can never have too much herbs and so I am happy. So we needed to think of some ideas on how to use this wonderful herb as Thyme goes by.
• Thyme is of course a major ingredient in Herbs de Provence and Bouquet Garni.
• Thyme is great for flavouring stocks, soups, stews and casseroles.
• Thyme is wonderful just sprinkled over salads.
• Thyme is brilliant mixed in with the dough when making bread or bread rolls.
• Both lamb and tomatoes have their flavours enhanced by Thyme.
• Make stuffing with chunks of bread and some lemon juice, zest and thyme for chicken.
• Add Thyme to your mayonnaise. This works really well with a BLT sandwich.
• If making your own cheese crackers or biscuits, add Thyme as it is also good with many cheeses.
• Hang in your kitchen as it gives off a wonderful smell and also can help repel insects.

As for a wine pairing for these savoury dishes, why not go for red Italian Sangiovese. I also think it goes well with Black Sheep bitter.

One must not forget that Thyme works well in sweet recipes as well. Replace lavender in any recipe with Thyme and most people will probably prefer the result.

• Infuse your cream with Thyme when making a Crème Brulee and you will have created something special. Why not call it Thyme is of the essence!
• Thyme goes really well with apples and pears and so why not add it to you apple or pear pies and tarts?
• Add Thyme when making your ice cream and again you will get something really beautiful tasting. I’ll try and post my recipe for Apple and Thyme Ice Cream later in the week.
• Add Thyme to biscuits and cakes as well. There is no end of ideas for this versatile herb, you can use it Thyme after Thyme.

If you want to infus thyme into milk or cream then heat for tem minutes with plenty of thyme at a temperature just below a simmer and then strain.

Bread rolls with thyme

Thyme is really easy to grow but prefers full sun and a well drained soil. Not only does it taste good it is also a very decorative addition to your herb bed. If you don’t have any get some from your local garden centre today as Thyme will wait for no man and there is no Thyme like the present.

Remember that herbs keep much better in the fridge if you put them in sacking bags rather than plastic bags.  You can buy these is a number of places including Raymond Blanc's restaurants and website.