Rosemary is an aromatic herb that adds a distinctive Mediterranean flavor to a variety of dishes, including roasted chicken, tomato sauce, grilled lamb and roasted vegetables.
WHAT IS ROSEMARY?
Rosemary, an aromatic herb, adds flavor to a diverse range of dishes, including stews, salads, soups and casseroles. A fantastic complement to grains, potatoes, onions and mushrooms, rosemary delivers a delightful combination when paired with protein, such as lamb, poultry, beef, chicken, and fish.
WHAT DOES ROSEMARY TASTE LIKE?
Rosemary offers an earthy, woodsy flavor with subtle notes of pepper, lemon and mint. With its distinct, powerful taste, rosemary benefits from the essence of other herbs such as thyme, marjoram and oregano, blending for a deep, yet complex flavor profile. Due to rosemary’s strong flavor, it’s best to start with small amounts and adjust accordingly.
WHAT DOES ROSEMARY LOOK LIKE?
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub with thick, grayish-green leaves that look like needles. These fragrant leaves have a leather-like texture and feature a dark green color on top with a powdery-white underside. Rosemary originates from the Mediterranean and produces small clusters of pink, white or pale blue flowers.
ROSEMARY USES
If you’re wondering how to use rosemary, there are plenty of recipes perfect for this aromatic herb. Rosemary is excellent for incorporating into seasoning blends and using as an addition to various culinary creations, such as marinades, soups, stews, baked goods and herbal teas.
WHAT IS ROSEMARY GOOD FOR?
Rosemary is great for enhancing a variety of culinary creations. When toasted or cooked, its flavor intensifies, making it an excellent seasoning for robust vegetables, protein and baked goods like focaccia or biscuits.
WHAT SPICES GO WITH ROSEMARY?
Add even more flavor to your meals with herbs and spices that go with rosemary, including:
- Oregano: McCormick Oregano is the highest quality oregano because it's cultivated in the rich soil and intense sunlight of the Mediterranean and gently dried for a greener look and more flavorful taste. The Mexican variety grows wild in the mountainous interior of its native Mexico and is related to lemon verbena. It brings citrus and anise flavors, and is much more pungent than Mediterranean oregano.
- Thyme: The plant’s tiny leaves—just a quarter inch at most in length—must be carefully harvested, cleaned, dried and milled to retain their rich color, piney aroma and earthy flavor. In the ancient world, thyme was a symbol of courage and bravery. One of the highest compliments to pay a Greek warrior, for instance, was to say he smelled of thyme. And in the Middle Ages, thyme was used to fend off nightmares. Today, our pure thyme holds its greatest place of honor in the kitchen as one of our most popular herbs.
- Garlic: Dried garlic takes on a mellow, round flavor that elevates recipes both savory and sweet. McCormick partners with family owned farms to grow garlic that can be used as powder or minced. It adds instant flavor into whatever you’re cooking because our bottles contain garlic and only garlic, and nothing else. Garlic is a member of the lily family, native to Central Asia and cousin to leeks, chives, onions and shallots. It’s the most pungent of the lilies, with a strong flavor and aroma. Unless you’re using it to ward off vampires, as people have done since the 1700s, it pays to use allium sativum with a gentle hand.
- Black Pepper: Our pure black pepper is the most widely used seasoning on Earth. It delivers a mild kick of heat that highlights rather than overwhelms other flavors. Native to the Malabar Coast of India, McCormick Black Pepper comes from the mature berries of the evergreen vine Piper nigrum. From plantation to package, we monitor the process every step of the way to ensure that every bottle delivers consistent sharp aroma and earthy flavor. In ancient times, peppercorns were rare and valuable. They were used as currency to pay dowries and even rent. Although no longer used as money, pure black pepper is still one of the world’s most valued and beloved spices in all types of food.
HOW LONG DO SPICES LAST?
While dried herbs and spices typically last for 1–2 years, there are some exceptions worth noting when it comes to the shelf life of spices. Maintain the freshness of your spices and herbs with these helpful storage tips.
GRAB YOUR ROSEMARY PRODUCTS!
- McCormick Gourmet Organic Crushed Rosemary
- McCormick Gourmet Organic Rosemary
- McCormick Rosemary Leaves
AND TRY THESE ROSEMARY RECIPES:
- Herbed Beef Italiano
- Italian Style Soup with Turkey Sausage
- Balsamic Herb Grilled Lamb Chops
- Greek Vegetable Salad with Herb Vinaigrette
Want to create a meal plan for your rosemary recipes? Need help planning your weekly meals and want to try new recipes? Save your favorite food, dessert, drink recipes and organize your ingredients with the McCormick Meal Planner.
