An herb is any plant used whole or in part as an ingredient for health, flavor, or fragrance. Herbs can be used to make teas; perk up cooked foods such as meats, vegetables, sauces, and soups; or to add flavor to vinegars, butters, dips, or mustards. Many herbs are grown for their fragrance and are used in potpourris, sachets, and nosegays; or to scent bath water, candles, oils, or perfumes.
More than 25% of our modern drugs contain plant extracts as active ingredients, and researchers continue to isolate valuable new medicines from plants and confirm the benefits of those used in traditional folk medicine.
Herbs as a group are relatively easy to grow. Begin your herb garden with the herbs you enjoy using the most. For example, choose basil, oregano, and fennel for Italian cooking; lavender and lemon verbena for making potpourri; or chamomile, peppermint, and blue balsam mint if you plan to make your own teas.
The optimum growing conditions vary with each individual herb species. Some of the herbs familiar to North Americans, such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, bay laurel, marjoram, dill, and oregano are native to the Mediterranean region. These herbs grow best in soils with excellent drainage, bright sun, and moderate temperatures.
Is a Herb a Vegetable? Clearing Up the Confusion Between Plant Categories
When it comes to plants used for culinary purposes, the categories of fruits, vegetables, and herbs can be confusing Herbs have fragrant leaves used for seasoning, while vegetables are edible plant parts eaten as main dishes or sides But are herbs considered a type of vegetable, or do they belong to their own distinct group? Let’s break down the terminology and clarify the relationship between these beneficial plants.
Defining Herbs
Culinary herbs are plants valued specifically for their aromatic, flavorful leaves. Common examples include basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, dill, mint, sage, and many more. Herbs contain essential oils and phytochemicals that give them their robust scent and taste.
In cooking, herbs are used in relatively small amounts to add aroma and flavor to foods, either fresh or dried. They are rarely served as a main part of a meal. Herbs can be annual, perennial, or biennial plants.
In addition to culinary use, some herbs are prized for medicinal properties. Herbal supplements and remedies utilize the roots, flowers, seeds, stems and leaves of certain herb species believed to have health benefits.
What Makes a Vegetable?The term vegetable encompasses any edible part of a plant This includes
- Roots – carrot, turnip, beet, radish
- Bulbs – onion, garlic, leek
- Stems – celery, asparagus
- Leaves – lettuce, spinach, cabbage
- Flowers – broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke
- Seeds – peas, beans, corn
- Fruits – tomato, cucumber, squash, pepper
Vegetables are usually eaten as part of a main dish or side for their nutrients. Some vegetables do produce edible leaves, like lettuce or spinach, but the entire leafy portion is consumed.
The Relationship Between Herbs and Vegetables
Herbs fit under the larger vegetable category because they are edible plant parts, specifically leaves, just used differently. So it’s accurate to say:
- All culinary herbs are vegetables, but not all vegetables are herbs.
- Herbs represent just one portion of the broader vegetable group – the leafy parts.
Think of the vegetable family as a tree. Vegetables are the trunk while herbs are a branch growing from that trunk.
Leafy herbs also have these key distinctions:
- Most culinary herbs come from small, low-growing herbaceous plants rather than large vegetable plants.
- Herb leaves tend to be more pungent and fragrant than typical vegetable greens.
- Herbs are used in small amounts to add bold flavor, while vegetable leaves make up a main part of a dish.
Comparing Herb and Vegetable Leaves
To further demonstrate the herb-vegetable relationship, let’s compare some common edible leaves:
Basil – HerbBasil is the classic herb. The leaves contain essential oils that lend a distinct sweet, yet peppery flavor. Just a bit of fresh or dried basil adds punch to pesto, pastas, soups, and Italian dishes
Lettuce – Vegetable
Lettuce is primarily grown as a vegetable crop for salads and sandwiches. All parts, including the leaves, stem and sometimes roots, are edible. It is served as a main part of various dishes. The leaves lack an intense aroma like basil.
Parsley – Herb
Parsley is another herb grown specifically for its fresh, grassy flavor. The leaves contain essential oils that enhance taste and smell of many foods. A sprinkle of parsley on top provides plenty of flavor.
Spinach – Vegetable
Spinach is a fast-growing leafy green veggie that constitutes a main portion of salads, soups, sides and other meals. The whole leaf is eaten for its nutrients, but the leaves are not especially aromatic.
Thyme – Herb
Thyme is a classic culinary herb valued for its potent lemony, earthy flavor. A little fresh or dried thyme goes far when seasoning soups, stews, meats and more. The essential oils in thyme give it a robust taste and aroma.
Arugula – Herb or Vegetable
Arugula straddles the line between herb and vegetable. In small amounts, arugula adds a peppery punch similar to an herb. But arugula is also served in larger quantities as a salad green or cooked veggie. So it can serve dual purposes!
Herbs Offer Unique Benefits
Culinary herbs add immense flavor, variety and nutrition to everyday cooking. Their diversity and versatility in global cuisines is invaluable. Herbs also contain higher antioxidant levels compared to most vegetables and fruits. Adding more fresh herb leaves to meals is an easy way to boost antioxidant intake for better health.
While herbs and vegetables may seem to overlap, understanding their subtle differences helps when cooking with plants or growing an edible garden. Both are vital components of healthy diets when used properly!
It Doesn’t Have to be a Lot of Work
If you invest in good soil and amendments, water regularly, prevent weeds smartly, and check for the occasional bug or animal nibbling, you should be able to have a vegetable garden without taking too much time. Prepare for the insect and animal nibbling ahead. It makes it much easier. If you don’t have room for an in-the-ground garden, there are many types of great containers you can grow in on your patio or deck.
Growing Your Own Vegetables
There are many reasons to grow your own vegetables, but the main reason is that it is just so satisfying. It’s ‘dirt therapy’! If that’s not enough, think about this:
You can control what goes into your food. These days, there is a lot of controversy about what chemicals are used in large scale farming. When you grow your own, YOU are in charge!
- Varieties. There a so many varieties of vegetables that you will never see in the grocery store. Types of tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce, etc. you can only find in seed or vegetable seedlings. It’s so much fun to try different ones each year.
- Freshness. There is nothing like going out to pick a vegetable to put on your plate that evening. It tastes better! Saving money. If you start from seeds, it costs very little to grow your own veggies.
- It connects us to our food sources. Meaning, it’s good to know what it takes to grow food, instead of just buying it. It’s useful for children to learn, but also as adults, we probably forget about the labor it takes to grow and harvest food. Conditions are generally not great for the people who harvest produce for a living.
- It makes us more conscious of waste. When you’ve babied those little green beans for weeks on end, you certainly don’t want them rotting in the back of your fridge!
10 Vegetables and Herbs PERFECT for SHADE Garden Spots
FAQ
Do herbs count as vegetables?
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Michigan State Universityhttps://www.canr.msu.eduIncrease intake of fresh herbs for everyday health – MSU ExtensionFeb 27, 2017 — Since herbs are plants just like vegetables, they are physically, biochemically and nutritionally quite similar to leafy greens such as lettuce, spi…
What is an herb classified as?
Herbs are leaves, and although most come from herbaceous plants (plants that lack woody stems), a few do come from woody plants, such as bay leaf. Basil, rosemary, and parsley are often found in a kitchen’s spice rack but actually qualify as herbs because they are aromatic leaves.
What is the difference between a vegetable and a herb?
They’re both just cultural categories with fuzzy boundaries. Normally herbs are leaves that are used primarily to add flavor, while a vegetable can be any plant part. If an herb is the star of the show, then it’s also a vegetable. If it’s not, most people would just call it an herb. None of it matters.
Is basil an herb or a vegetable?
Basil is an herb in the mint family. It adds flavor to meals, and its nutrients may provide health benefits, such as reducing oxidative stress and supporting cardiovascular health. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) plays a role in many Mediterranean, and particularly Italian, cuisines.