Watercress and other Herbs

Previously here we have looked at watercress from the viewpoints of botany, geology, agriculture, and geography now we’re going to start looking at watercress from its most familiar viewpoint and that is cooking, eating, and nutrition.

In one post, we established that watercress is a vegetable,specifically a green leafy vegetable in the same family as broccoli and cabbage. But watercress also has another identity and that is an herb.

Note: Because I live and publish from the United States, I use the American pronunciation of herb in which the h is silent. Apparently, the word is pronounced differently in The United Kingdom. I don’t know how other English speaking countries pronounce it. You can listen to the difference at this link.

herb pronunciation

What is an herb?

 According to Bee Wilson writing in her column Table Talk, The Wall Street Journal (June 17^th, 2021)

“Sometimes the term is used interchangeably with “spice” but technically an herb-which comes from the Latin herba, meaning grass-comes from the green leaf of a plant whereas spices come from other parts such as seeds bark roots and buds.”

Ms. Wilson points out that it is perfectly possible to cook and eat without fresh herbs, but it would be dull. She gives examples–warm focaccia with rosemary, Mexican food with the grassy hit of cilantro, and Vietnamese pho soup with its essential mint; without these, half the pleasure would be gone.

The person who cooks with herbs is making a stand for joy.

Bee Wilson

She explained that half a century ago the only herbs in frequent use were mint, thyme, sage, marjoram, rosemary, and basil. Other herbs less commonly used included bay leaves, chives, chervil, parsley, and tarragon. But the use of cilantro was little known. Both it and basil grew in popularity as Mexican and Italian cooking spread throughout the United States, as now is Middle Eastern cuisine.

Ms. Wilson recommends a cookbook by Mark Diacono, a gardener and cook, Herb: A Cook’s Companion. In it he included a recipe for grilled peaches flavored with basil, watercress, and shaved parmesan.

View a sample of the Kindle version at this link.

She also mentions that in Renaissance Europe herbs were seen as vital in the kitchen both for seasoning and as medicine.

In an old cookbook she found a recipe using the herb borage, that claimed to comfort the heart and take away melancholy. She tried it, but it didn’t work. However, she said it is true that life is sweeter with herbs.

You can own a copy of the historical book, The Treasurie of Commodious Conceits, for the bargain price of $987!

Books by Bee Wilson (affiliate links)

At her blog Claire’s World, Claire Justine a “47+ lifestyle blogger from Nottingham” offers us this scrumptious sounding recipe using watercress. Visit her blog and try some of her other recipes also.

Baked Pumpkin and Watercress Fondue

 

exploring the HEART of HERBS

I’m learning more and more about watercress and hope you are too. If you’ve just now found me, here are links to some other watercress posts.

And please share this post with your friends who want to know more about watercress and herbs. Or who just like good food.