You can even add thyme to some of your favorite beverages. An excellent addition to a tomato and cheese omelette! It’s also used to flavor eggs and cheese. If you want to add thyme to something lighter, tomatoes and thyme is quite a popular pair when cooking. Aside from meats, thyme can also be added to seafood like fish sauces or soups like clam chowder. You can add it to a marinade, use it as seasoning, as part of a dry rub, or add it to your stuffing. Thyme is most commonly used when cooking baked, roasted, or braised chicken dishes but it also goes well with other meats like beef, pork, and lamb. Thyme adds an extra layer of flavor to your dish without being overpowering. Because of its subtle flavor, it can be used with many different herbs like basil, chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and tarragon. One of the great things about thyme is its versatility. Keep this in mind when deciding when to add this herb to your recipe. Important fact: The longer thyme is cooked, the more flavor it provides. Of course, a fresh ingredient will always have more flavor and nutrients so if you’re following a recipe with dried thyme, cook it in the early stages to give it time to release all of its flavors and nutrients. This is because dried thyme has been shrunk and flavor is concentrated in smaller pieces, giving it less volume and more potency. The general rule is to use as much as eight times more fresh thyme vs dried.įor example, if your recipe calls for a ¼ tablespoon of dried thyme, it is best to use two tablespoons of fresh thyme.

When preserved well, fresh thyme will last one to two weeks, but you can keep dried thyme for as long as a year after opening.Īnother important difference to know before cooking is that you will need to use more thyme if it’s fresh. There are some key differences between fresh thyme and dried thyme to keep in mind before you start cooking.Īs with most herbs and other ingredients, dried will last much longer than fresh thyme. They are also very easy to grow indoors so having a thyme plant your kitchen is a great idea! You can choose to buy your thyme dried and in packets at the grocery store or you can also get them fresh. It has a subtle enough flavor, so it blends very well with other herbs, making it a staple in any spice rack.

It is earthy with floral hints and is a little bit sweet and a little bit peppery. Generally, thyme will have a sharp, almost minty flavor. There are many different varieties of thyme that all have subtle differences in flavor. Who knows, you might already be using some of these products in your home! What Does Thyme Taste Like? Interesting Fact: The active compound in thyme, called thymol, is used in personal hygiene and home sanitizing products. These are beneficial in aromatherapy, stimulating the immune system, and circulatory responses. It contains antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Which adds a nice, subtle element to a variety of culinary dishes.Īnd while there are plenty of tasty thyme recipes to try, it’s also said to have some medicinal uses. There are two popular varieties of thyme common thyme and lemon thyme.Īs you might expect, the lemon thyme has a distinct lemon flavor and aroma. Thyme is actually a part of the mint family and is a close relative of oregano (which is why oregano is a popular thyme substitute). As a result, it’s used to season all sorts of dishes in multiple cuisines. It has many culinary uses and is pretty easy to grow. The origin of thyme can be traced back to ancient communities in and around the Mediterranean. Plus, what dishes to use it for, and the best ways to store it. If you’ve never cooked with thyme before, today you’ll find out just what this flavor-packed herb can do. But can also be found in a variety of recipes and even drinks! This humble little herb is most commonly used in European and Mediterranean dishes.

Fresh thyme