Get The Most Out of Your Rosemary from Backyard Eats
Harvesting Rosemary
When It’s Ready
- When the plant is at at least 4″ tall
- Harvest no more than one-third of a plant at a time to allow regrowth
- Harvest at any time of the season
How To
- Cut with scissors or pruners about one-third down the length of a main stem
- Or clip off an entire branch.
Pro Tip
- Clipping a main stem will induce branching at that point, resulting in a bushier plant.
- Removing an entire branch will reduce bushiness and encourage more upright growth.
- The shape (or “habit”) of any rosemary plant will also differs based on the variety of plant.
Growing Rosemary
Rosemary is a fragrant herb with a pine-like flavor and a slightly sweet and bitter taste. Rosemary can be used fresh or dried, and it is often used in marinades, rubs, and sauces for meat dishes such as lamb, beef, and poultry. It is also great for seasoning roasted potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables. The leaves of the rosemary plant are often removed from the stem and chopped before use, although the whole sprigs can also be added to recipes for added flavor.
Storing Rosemary
Fresh Storage: Wrap in damp paper towel and place in a ziploc bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for storage up to three weeks.
Long-term storage: Dry in the oven at 125F or freeze whole or in ice cubes. Visit Spiceography for more detailed information.
Cooking With Rosemary
- Rosemary Roasted Potatoes: Toss quartered potatoes with olive oil, minced rosemary, salt, and pepper. Roast in the oven until golden and crispy for flavorful and fragrant roasted potatoes.
- Rosemary Grilled Chicken: Marinate chicken pieces in a mixture of olive oil, minced rosemary, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Grill until cooked through for a delicious and aromatic rosemary-infused chicken.
- Rosemary Focaccia: Add chopped fresh rosemary to homemade focaccia bread dough before baking. The herbaceous flavor of rosemary pairs perfectly with the soft and chewy texture of the bread.
- Rosemary Infused Olive Oil: Place fresh rosemary sprigs in a bottle of olive oil and let it infuse for a few days. The resulting rosemary-infused oil can be used as a flavorful drizzle for salads, roasted vegetables, or grilled meats.
- Rosemary Lemonade: Infuse fresh rosemary sprigs in homemade lemonade for a unique and refreshing twist. Simply steep the rosemary in hot water, strain, and mix with freshly squeezed lemon juice and sweetener to taste.