Adding herbs to your cooking is a delicious and healthy way to add more flavour without adding calories. Here are some herbs you should have in your own mini home garden.

Basil

One of the many herbs you should grow is the basil plant. Basils are used in a lot of dishes especially in Italian dishes and it’s great in pasta sauces, homemade pesto and pizzas. Removing basil leaves regularly help encourage the plant to start branching and result in a bushier plant.

If flowers are starting to grow on the basil, cut them off immediately to prevent the basil from changing the flavour. Upon harvesting the basil leaves, keep the leaves in a jar filled with a few inches of water with the cut side in the water.

Cover the lid of the jar and store it in a refrigerator. This is to keep the leaves fresh and it should stay fresh for about three to five days.

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Mint

Mint is another great herb to have at home and there’s a range to choose from such as sweet mint, spearmint, peppermint and chocolate mint. Mint is commonly used in beverages such as tea and can also be found in some salads or desserts.

However, do take note that all types of mint spread aggressively through underground runners so it’s best to plant this herb in a pot with drainage holes. Just like taking care of a basil plant, regularly pinching off the stems help the mint herb to grow abundantly.

Sage

Sage is another popular Italian seasoning commonly used in soups, sauces and roasted vegetables. Native to the Mediterranean, sage is drought-tolerant which makes maintenance fairly easy.

Sage plants grow in a roundish bush shape so they grow best in roomier spaces. Unlike basil and mint, you don’t need to prune sage regularly. Sage can be harvested as needed. To harvest, clip just above the part of the plant where two leaves meet. Sage tastes best when it’s used fresh.

Oregano

Oregano is used in a lot of delicious soups and spaghetti sauces. It can also be cooked with beans, lentils, roasted vegetables and other meat dishes. A note to remember is that oregano spreads easily like the sage too. As soon as the plant is several inches tall, you can snip sprigs of oregano to encourage bushier growth.

Parsley

Parsley is a hit or miss for a lot of people. However, it’s a very common garnish and pairs well with meat and egg dishes, pasta dishes and soups. Parsley grows well in moist soil so it’s good to regularly check the soil. To harvest, cut the leafy stems from the base.

Don’t worry because the plant will grow back bushier. If the parsley plant starts to attract pests like the whitefly, spray the undersides of the leaves with mild soapy water.

Cilantro

Cilantro and parsley come from the same botanical family, and both herbs equally repel people who find that it tastes like soap. Fortunately, there are a few who do like the taste and the herb can be found in Mexican cuisines, salsa sauce and bean dips.

When the cilantro plant flowers, you get coriander seeds which can be used to season and spice your cooking too. Ground coriander (the plant’s seeds) is used as a spice in curry dishes and baked food.

However, the cilantro plant also attracts pests such as the whitefly and aphids. To manage this, spray the underside of the leaves with mild soapy water.

Thyme

Thyme is another amazing herb to be added into marinades, slowly cooked soups and sauces. It gives off a nice, lemony zing.

Just like the other herbs, regularly pinching the tip of the stems helps it to grow bushier. Thyme can be stored dried, refrigerated, frozen or preserved in oil or vinegar.

Unlike the basil plant, the taste of the herb does not change even when it’s flowering. However, it’s still prudent to clip off the flowers to promote faster growth.

Rosemary

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region and grows really well in hot and humid weather, making it one of the best herbs to grow in Malaysia. Packed with iron, calcium, vitamin A, C, and B-6, rosemary can be used for seasoning in a variety of dishes, such as soups, casseroles, salads, steaks and stews.

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Check out how you can use some of these herbs to make delicious meals for everyone at home!

This article was first published in theSun Buzz Herb Garden edition. Here’s how you can start your own herb garden at home.