Harvest Time…  Dry Fresh Herbs from the garden.

I feel I should be singing…”Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme”, but I decided to dry Parsley, Sweet Basil, Chives and Thyme.Follow the same recipe outline for other fresh herbs that you might like to dry to enjoy in soups, stews and sauces over the winter.

The only difference is in the number of 10 second intervals that need to be done.  The moisture level of your fresh spice will be the determining factor.  The more moisture that you start with, the longer it will take to dry.

So, be patient….the reward is amazing.   I have already started to use my new freshly dried herbs in my cooking.

Parsley, Chives, Sweet Basil and Thyme – Drying Fresh Spices

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Ingredients

• 1 bunch fresh parsley
• 1 bunch fresh chives
• 1 bunch sweet basil leaves
• 1 bunch fresh thyme leaves

Directions

Parsley

As with all the fresh spices that you will dry, it is important to shake off any dirt from the leaves (wash if necessary).

Place the clean leaves on a microwave safe dish (I use a bacon cooker).

Microwave on high for one minute. You will notice the moisture coming out of the parsley. Put the parsley back in the microwave and microwave it on high for 10 seconds. I found that it took six 10 second intervals and then one 5 second interval until the parsley was dry enough to crumble.

You might ask why the 10 second intervals, instead of another minute. Another minute on high would have burnt the spice before drying it. As well, all microwaves are different and you need to be checking after each 10 second interval to see how dry the parsley is getting. Continue to move the parsley closer together as it dries, so that it will dry before burning.

Place the dried crumbled Parsley in a clean dish and allow to continue to air dry for another couple of hours before storing in a spice bottle.

Chives

Choose fresh chives from the garden that have no yellow tips

Microwave on high for 1 minute. Chives took another nineteen 10 second intervals before they were dry

Place the dried chives in a dish and allow to finish air drying before bottling.

Sweet Basil

It takes many sweet basil leaves to create a small amount of dried basil. Choose leaves that are healthy and green.

Microwave on high for one minute. It then took twenty 10 second intervals and one 5 second interval before the basil was dry enough to crumble.

Place the dried basil in a clean dish and continue to air dry for another couple of hours before bottling.

Thyme

It is hard to pick thyme leaves(as they are quite small), so snip the leaves and stems.

Place the leaves and stems on the microwave dish and microwave on high for 1 minute. I found that thyme took twenty 10 second intervals and four 5 second intervals. About half way through I pulled the leaves off the stems and grouped them together to continue to cook....discard the stems

Place the dried thyme in a clean dish to air cool for a couple of hours before putting it in a spice bottle.