Uses for Parsley
Often thought to just be that green stuff they put on your dinner plate for decoration this is not the case. The history and health benefits of parsley are often misunderstood as you will see in the article below there is a reason as to where and why it’s derived from. Learn more about this ancient herb with some interesting properties.
It is one of the oldest and longest used herbs known to man, but also notoriously difficult to grow as germination can take up to 2 weeks. Parsley is so rich with herbal lore. In fact, in this realm, parsley is known as the herb of the underworld. radition says “parsley seeds must go to the devil and back nine times” before her pretty fronds can break the ground. No wonder she takes so long to sprout! This was enough to convince the ancients that parsley had no good intentions. They believed it would only grow well in a witch’s garden. I grow parsley and grow it well and I’ve been called many things but never the “W” word! Now that I am ready for my first harvest, I wonder if I must heed another piece of herbal history. It is said that one should never cut parsley if you are in love or you will sever your relationship. I’m not even tempted to trust my love life to a Middle Age superstition.
I believe parsley is misunderstood….She needs to change her reputation and take her proper place in the seasoning world. Sadly, parsley is over-rated in the dried form, and her addition to any food mostly just adds a speckle of color and “some” flavor IF you have a good imagination. For reasons I don’t understand, she is under-used in her fresh and more flavorful form. I believe her bright, grassy flavor lets it go places other herbs just can’t! Afterall, something had to make parsley worth singing about. In the old Elizabethan song, parsley is one of four magical plants that form the refrain, “parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.” And this was long before the Simon & Garfunkel version. These four herbs could be found growing in any decent herb garden through the ages, but of them all, parsley is still the most commonly used.
To most of us, this pretty green plant is known as no more than a garnish on our dinner plates served at many restaurants. It is said this practice started in the middle Ages, as it was known as a cleansing herb…so it was placed on plates, to protect the food from contamination. There were other ancient uses for parsley, as well. The Romans and the ancient Greeks used parsley for refreshing their breath after indulging in garlic, wine and ale. They also believed eating it would delay drunkenness. And, of course, parsley was worn at banquets because it was thought to absorb the wine vapors. I make no claims on these qualities of parsley.
