Adding chives to my potted herb garden is probably one of the most surprisingly rewarding garden ventures. This perennial, with its mild onion flavor is very easy to grow and produces the most beautiful edible purple blooms. The joy of seeing them making an appearance every season is enough reason to consider expanding its food print and giving it a bigger home.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING CHIVES
When buying chives, choose long slender rich green blades with no wilt, discoloration or slime on it. You’ll most likely find chives in a small plastic container hanging in the produce section (Total rip off but it’s better than nothing). You may be able to find a nice bunch at a farmers’ market. If you’re like me and growing some in the garden, harvest just what you need and it will come right back.
STORING FRESH CHIVES
Nothing is more disappointing than reaching for the herbs you bought yesterday to discover a rutting mess. Granted you cannot make them last forever; you can at least keep them fresh until you have to use them. Try not to rinse until you’re ready to use. Moisture will accelerate spoilage. You can loosely wrap in a paper towel and store in the fridge for about a week. You can also chop and freeze in oil or water for a longer-term storage.
COOKING WITH CHIVES
With its delicate flavor, we prefer not to expose chives to a lot of heat so adding just before serving is the way to go.
Finely chop and add to stews, soups, eggs or mashed potatoes to add an extra edge to your dish.
Since starting our potted garden, we’ve been loving the addition of freshly chopped chives and other herbs to our salad bowls. And the beautiful purple blooms will elevate any salad
You do not have to wait for thanksgiving to embark on your herb butter journey. Chives alomgside other amazing herbs are in season. Make an herb butter to enjoy with breads, meats and bakes.
Infusing oils with herbs is an amazing way to store and introduce their wonderful flavors to several dishes. Just like our basil infused oil, you can simply use fresh chives, with some fresh garlic for add a dash of elegance when cooking.
Marinades are another favorite when it comes to chives too. Consider adding a good handful of chopped chives to your marinades and build another layer of flavor.
These are just a few of the many ways you can enjoy chives especially when it’s in season. So, whether from the store or your backyard garden or farmer’s market, chef or eager home cook, chives will bring on so much flavor, color and pizazz to any dish. It’s very okay to overindulge.
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