Cooking with Lavender | Herbes De Provence & Other Recipes

Cooking with edible flowers is one of those beautiful culinary experiences that has a way of delighting and surprising both the eyes and the palette.

For the cook, the act of brushing your fingers against petals, gathering up a basket of aromatic herbs, breathing in the therapeutic aroma and then tasting the flavors as you create something unique, has a touch of indulgence and sensuality to it.

This week I have been diving into one of my favorite flowers/herbs Lavender. I want to share some recipes and inspire you to explore lavender as a seasoning for your sweet and savory recipes.

If you'd like to learn more about the medicinal benefits, the history, and cultivating lavender in your garden, you might also enjoy reading The Healing Garden: Growing Lavender (Lavendula Officinalis), For the love of lavender: History, Aromatic & Medicinal Benefits (Lavendula Officinalis)and Fragrance Flashbacks Steeped in Lavender

Here's a helpful list of edible flowers. You might be surprised by how many common garden flowers are edible: roses, tulips, violets, sunflower, pansy, marigold to name a few. Of course, not all flowers are edible, and some can make you sick so be diligent and know what you are doing. Also, be mindful of selecting naturally grown organic flowers.

When making edibles seasoned with lavender always use a light touch. Think of it as a strong seasoning.

English Lavender (L. Angustifolia) has the sweetest fragrance of all lavenders and is the most preferred variety for culinary use. Lavender can taste delicate and sweet when used with a light hand. Too much and it can be bitter and overpowering.

The trick is to add a little bit at a time and taste as you season. Tasting and seasoning as we cook are one of the most important skills I've learned in the kitchen. Oddly enough this habit was instilled in me by watching Gordon Ramsay screaming expletives at cooks for forgetting this essential skill.

Just imagine lavender infused honey over vanilla ice cream or lavender shortbread with tea. Beautiful right? You can make lavender herbal vinegar/salad dressing or marinades, and a hint of lavender in homemade chocolate is irresistible. From syrups to cordials and herbed butter and homemade yogurt cheese, herbal teas and even savory meat dishes, lavender can enhance flavors and delight the mouth. It can also taste like a bitter bouquet so always remember to use a light hand.

Lavender and lemons were meant to be together!

Herbes De Provence

Herbes de Provence is a traditional blend of herbs that originated in the Provence region in southern France. Cooks would harvest herbs from the countryside to make up this blend. Lavender, rosemary, thyme, and basil are the common ingredients with other herbs added as available. Every cook has their variation of this recipe so don't be afraid to adapt your blend of Herbes de Provence to the herbs you have available locally.

This recipe is an adaptation from the one found in the book The Lavender Lover's Handbook. Herbes De Province is delicious with fish, chicken, pasta, vinegar, salad dressings, herbal cheeses and so much more!

• 1 part dried thyme
• 1 part dried basil
• 2 part dried lavender buds
• 2 parts dried rosemary
• .5 part dried summer savory
• .5 part dried marjoram

A part is any level of measurement you want to use; measuring using a teaspoon or tablespoon is ideal for small batches and cups for larger quantities. Mix all of the ingredients and crush with a mortar and pestle. Store in an airtight container.

More Luscious Lavender Recipes

Delicious & Easy Probiotic Yoghurt Cheese Recipe

A recipe that hits all the right notes, this yoghurt cheese tastes as good as it looks. One bite inevitably leads to another because it’s just delicious! It is also inexpensive to make. All you need is some yoghurt, cheesecloth, and a few other optional ingredients. It is lovely when seasoned with Herbes De Province!

Homemade Flavour Extracts: 8 Easy Recipes!

Extracts offer a little bit of flavor magic in a teeny bottle. Lavender Extracts are super easy to make and handy for adding flavor to cakes, icing and various beverages.

How To Make Flavoured Sugar (With Recipes)

Sprinkle a little flavored sugar over whipped cream topped cocoa for the ultimate comfort drink. We all know too much sugar isn't good for us, but a little in moderation is hard to resist, especially when it's so pretty and aromatic. You can use any type of sugar in this recipe, organic cane sugar, coconut sugar, etc.

Homemade Holiday Herbal Bitters (Recipes Included)

Simple Rose Petal Syrup (Recipe)

This recipe is for a rose petal syrup, but you can switch it up by adding a few sprigs of lavender. They pair well together in the garden and recipes! You can also make a pure lavender syrup. Just keep in mind that a little goes a long way with lavender. Don't add too many flowers.

Healthy Homemade Chocolates with a Pinch of Love

When I made these healthier for you chocolates, I didn't mention that some were flavored with lavender. They tasted good, and I devoured them. My dog Molly also enjoyed them. She stole them during the photo shoot.

For some genuinely stunning culinary inspiration

The Lavender Cookbook

Cooking with Flowers

I hope I've inspired you to dabble with flowers in the kitchen. Have you seasoned with Lavender? Do you have a favorite recipe?

There are some things, after all, that Sally Owens knows for certain: Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Add pepper to your mashed potatoes. Plant roses and lavender, for luck. Fall in love whenever you can. ~ Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic

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