The Comforts of Cooking with Lavender: A Culinary Journey
Lavender, known for its calming properties, offers more than just a soothing scent. Its delicate aroma and subtle flavor can significantly enhance various culinary creations. This versatile ingredient is perfect for baking, seasoning, and even beverages, bringing a unique touch to your kitchen.
In gardening, different varieties of lavender are selected based on factors like hardiness, size, and bloom time. At The Spice & Tea Shoppe, we prefer French lavender for its subtle aroma, which lends itself well to a variety of culinary methods.
The lavender plant, a perennial shrub, originates from the Mediterranean and Middle East. It gained prominence in the 19th century when Provence, France, began cultivating extensive lavender fields. Provence, located in southeastern France near the Italian border and the Mediterranean Sea, experiences vibrant lavender blooms from June to August. The region's lush fields and their aromatic blooms are renowned worldwide.
Currently, in our shop, we offer French lavender flowers, specifically the super blue variety sourced from France. This lavender can be steeped as a pure tea, offering a light, almost savory flavor. Lavender is also incorporated into several of our products, providing numerous culinary uses.
For savory dishes, our Herbes de Provence, Sel de Provence French Herb Sea Salt, and Herbes de Provence Extra Virgin Olive Oil are excellent choices. Herbes de Provence is a blend of summer herbs from the Provence region, including thyme, blue lavender, rosemary, marjoram, fennel seed, savory, and basil. Popularized in the 1960s by Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, this blend is ideal for rubbing into meat or fish before grilling or enhancing any French or Mediterranean dish.
Our Sel de Provence combines French Fleur de Sel sea salt with traditional herbs, making it a versatile addition to any summer recipe. For a savory marinade, our Herbes de Provence Olive Oil, made from 100% California-grown and certified extra virgin olive oil, captures the essence of summertime in Provence. It’s perfect for marinating chicken, roasting potatoes, or grilling vegetables, adding a floral, piney, and herbaceous flavor to your favorite dishes.
As summer approaches, consider adding a refreshing twist to a classic beverage with Lavender Lemonade. Lavender simple syrup can be used to sweeten iced tea or as a vibrant addition to your favorite drinks. Try rimming your glass with our French Lavender Sugar for an extra touch of elegance.
For those with a sweet tooth, we recommend our Lemon Lavender Greek Yogurt Pound Cake or Waffles with Lavender Butter. These recipes elevate simple desserts with the robust, playful flavor of lavender, bringing a taste of summer in Provence to your table.
Incorporating lavender into your cooking can transform your kitchen into a calm, lush sanctuary. With its versatile applications, lavender is a valuable addition to any culinary repertoire, providing both flavor and aromatic benefits.
Lavender Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons dried French lavender buds
Instructions:
Prepare Ingredients: Measure out water, sugar, and French lavender.
Combine Water and Sugar: In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar.
Heat Mixture: Place the saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar completely dissolves.
Add Lavender: Once the sugar is dissolved, add the dried French lavender buds to the saucepan.
Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes, allowing the lavender to infuse its flavor.
Remove from Heat: After 15 minutes, remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool completely.
Strain: Use a fine mesh strainer to remove the lavender buds from the syrup. Discard the buds.
Store: Transfer the lavender simple syrup to a clean glass bottle or jar.
Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Lavender Lemonade
Ingredients:
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)
- 1 cup lavender simple syrup
- 4 cups cold water
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices and lavender sprigs for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Juice Lemons: Squeeze fresh lemons to get 1 cup of lemon juice.
Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, lavender simple syrup, and cold water.
Stir Well: Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
Taste Test: Taste the lemonade and adjust the sweetness by adding more lavender simple syrup or water if necessary.
Serve: Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the lavender lemonade over the ice.
Garnish: Garnish with lemon slices and lavender sprigs if desired.
Enjoy: Serve immediately for the best flavor.
Tips:
Ensure the lemons are at room temperature before juicing to get the maximum amount of juice.
For a sparkling twist, replace half of the water with sparkling water.