Spring and summer are eagerly awaited seasons by Italian home cooks and professional chefs alike. There is something special about savoring the flavors of the herbs that they have both grown and harvested from their own gardens, or have found freshly picked at that special farmers market. Whether it’s basil, oregano, thyme, mint, parsley, rosemary, sage, etc., each herb adds its own depth of flavor to a kitchen creation.
Frequently found on the hillsides and in the pastures of Italy, wild herbs and greens grow in abundance in the spring and summer. Most are unique to each region, but rest assured that each adds a unique flavor to the recipes of traditional Italian cooks. Herbs such as rucola, cicoria, finocchio, barba di frate, and bruscandoli, to name a few, provide that extra “something,”–a distinguishingly unique quality and flavor to traditional Italian dishes.
The fronds of the finocchio (fennel plant) add just a hint of mystery when diced into a dish. Surprisingly, the frond does not have an overwhelming licorice flavor. It’s the actual fennel bulb that can be overpowering when sliced and sautéed or tossed into a salad. Bruscandoli, which is the very tip of the wild hops plant, provides a taste similar to that of fresh springtime asparagus. Agretti, also known as barba di frate brings a grassy, almost spinach like flavor to the plate.
Curly endive (chicoria) contributes a bitter edge to a salad, however when cooked it becomes sweet and fragrant. Arugula (rucola) adds a peppery flavor when added to a dish. The longer the leaves are permitted to grow the stronger the flavor becomes. Arugula can be served in a salad or sautéed and added to soups, stews and pasta dishes.
Both flat and curly leaf parsley grow wild in Italy. The debate continues amongst cooks as to which are preferred in Italian dishes. Traditionally, the flat leaf variety has a more pronounced and pleasant flavor, while the curly leaf can be a bit on the bitter side. Either adds not only flavor, but also a definite freshness to whatever dish is being prepared.
As with all cooking endeavors, experiment with fresh herbs and greens to find the combinations that is most pleasing to your palate. You may be very surprised and delighted by what you discover! For a variety of herb-filled Italian dishes, visit Christini’s Ristorante today. At our fine dining Orlando restaurant, each dish is cooked to perfection, and we guarantee that you will be thoroughly satisfied with the experience.
