Let’s have a look at cooking with bay leaves. These little green leaves pack quite a punch when it comes to adding flavor and aroma to your recipes.
Bay leaves are commonly used in soups and stews, sauces, and marinades, where they simmer alongside other ingredients. Whole bay leaves are most commonly used due to their ease of removal and ability to infuse flavor over long cooking times.
Additionally, bay leaves are frequently used in marinades, pickling brines, and rice dishes.
Keep reading to learn more about bay leaves and how to use them in recipes.
What are bay leaves?
Bay leaves, also known as bay laurel leaves, are native to the Mediterranean region and have been utilized in cooking for centuries. The laurel tree was also considered a symbol of wisdom, victory, and protection by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Bay leaf is an aromatic herb from an evergreen tree used in cooking. It is used whole, either fresh or dried, and is normally removed before eating.
The leaves are commonly used to flavor soups and meat dishes. They have a rich savory flavor that releases slowly in cooking.
The flavor of bay leaves is often described as woodsy and herbal with floral undertones.
Tips for cooking with bay leaves
When using bay leaves in cooking, a few tips will help you to maximize their flavor and avoid overpowering your dishes. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Choose high quality leaves
Select whole, dried bay leaves from reputable sources, or dry your own from a home grown plant. Good quality leaves will tend to retain their flavor and aroma better than pre-ground varieties.
Pick young leaves
If using fresh leaves, opt for bright green young leaves. Bay leaves get more bitter as they mature.
Remove the leaves before serving
Even though bay leaves add flavor to dishes, they are not meant to be eaten whole because of tough texture. Instead, add whole bay leaves to your recipes during cooking, then remove them before serving.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
Bay leaves are not just for savory recipes. They can also enhance the flavor of sweet dishes like custards, puddings, and poached fruits, adding a subtle herbal note to desserts.
Store bay leaves properly
To preserve the flavor and potency of bay leaves, store them airtight containers in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Should I use fresh or dried leaves?
You can use both! Fresh leaves last about a week. The dried versions will last for a year or more if stored properly.
11 Recipes With Bay Leaves
Using herbs and spices you are unfamiliar with in recipes can be a bit overwhelming. But fear not, because nothing could be easier than using bay leaves in recipes!
This collection of recipes using bay leaves showcase the versatility of bay laurel to elevate your cooking.
You don't have to give up Italian food on a vegan diet. This lasagna recipe is full of robust flavor but has no meat or dairy.
The bay leaves are used to flavor the tomato sauce.
Dried split peas combine with a meaty ham hock to created a rich and creamy soup that is very comforting.
Be sure to remove the bay leaf before serving.
I love using bay leaves in soups. They add so much flavor!
This yummy vegetable beef soup is just brimming with flavor and tender chunks of beef. Make it in the crock pot for ease of cooking.
There is nothing quite like the taste of an Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Beef Stew. Bay leaves add a nice earthy flavor to the recipe.
Cooking beef this way ends up in the most amazingly tender beef and flavors that warm you to the bones on even the coldest of days.
This savory slow cooker pot roast has a flavor that cannot be beat. The meat cooks beautifully, and ends up being fork tender and full of flavor.
Adding bay leaves to a slow cooker recipe allows the flavor of the herb to release slowly over several hours.
Normally I use dried bay leaves but this is a recipe using fresh bay leaves.
Chuck beef is full of flavor so it is the perfect choice for this recipe. Normally, it can be quite tough but if you cook it in the slow cooker, it is super moist and tender.
This recipe for slow cooker braised chicken and noodles with wine and tomatoes is full of flavor.
Bay leaves are frequently used in braised recipes due to their ability to enhance the depth and complexity of flavors.
I used boneless skinless chicken thighs because they give me the most tender results.
The hearty chicken soup features many varieties of beans. It's easy to make and super tasty.
Bay leaves add a subtle, earthy flavor and aroma to the broth, and enhance the overall taste profile of the soup.
It's not just a savory recipe that is enhanced with bay leaves. You can also use them to make tea!
Bay leaf tea is a herbal infusion made by steeping the fresh or dried leaves of the bay laurel tree in hot water. The steeping give the tea a distinct aroma, and flavor that is soothing.
Let's see how to use bay leaves in a side dish. This time it's sweet potatoes.
Infusing fresh herbs like bay leaves into the cream takes this savory sweet potato recipe up a notch.
Let's end our list of recipes with a use for bay leaves which is not savory.
This light vegan dessert incorporates the heady scent of bay leaves, infused with lemon and vanilla, over a layer of gently stewed apple.
It's the perfect way to end a meal!
Share these recipes using bay laurel on Twitter
If you enjoyed learning how to use bay leaves in cooking, be sure to share this post with a friend. Here is a tweet to get you started:
Discover the secret ingredient that elevates your cooking to new heights: bay leaves! 🌿 Learn how to use this aromatic herb in your recipes on The Gardening Cook. #CookingTips #BayLeaves #FlavorBoost #KitchenHacks Share on XPin these bay leaves recipes
Would you like a reminder of this post about uses for bay leaves? Just pin this image to one of your boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
You can also watch our video about growing bay laurel on YouTube!
