Ingredient: Chives
Chives-
- Description-
Chives are a perennial herb with clumps of cylindrical tubes or “leaves”. They are a member of the onion family with a milder flavor. Chives grow very well in our area. Edible purple flowers emerge in early summer.
- Preparation-
Chives are a common herb used widely in the culinary world. Chives can be used in just about any dish including: salads, dips, soups, stews, vinegar, as well as herb butters.
- Varieties-
Chives have insect repelling qualities so they are good to grow in your gardens. Other chives to enjoy are garlic chives.
- Storage-
To store fresh chives wrap them in a damp paper towel and put them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Chives can also be frozen for later use. Wash and trim the chives and allow them to dry completely. When all the moisture is gone place them in freezer bags or ice cube trays with s little water or olive oil.
- Nutrition-
Chives add little to no nutritional value to your dish, but they do add flavor!
When chive flowers bloom, you can use them too! Their onion-ish taste can flavor just about any dish, as well as provide an aesthetic quality to your dishes!
Herb butter is a great way to preserve herbs over the winter months. Check out our recipe for it!
Recipes Using Chives
Corn and Snap Pea Salad
Snap peas an corn compliment each other in this sweet and crunchy salad. This recipe is quite flexible depending on what fresh veggies and herbs you have on hand. Note the tip for making shortbread cookies included in the post, along with some other surprises!
Sugar Snap Pea and Ricotta Toasts
Serve with a simple side of fresh strawberries. Fresh ricotta cheese and sugar snap peas takes this simple dish to the next level.
