Learn how to cook with Lavender and add sweet floral flavour to baked goods, drinks, jams, and savoury dishes. Use it sparingly as dried buds or infused oil.
Listen to the guide
or read on . . .
Lavender’s Charm in the Kitchen
With its haunting floral aroma and hints of herbs and citrus, edible lavender adds bewitching depth and elegance to both sweet and savoury dishes. Far from just a garnish, lavender has been a surprisingly versatile ingredient for centuries. Ancient Romans infused it into wines, breads, and meat dishes in lavish banquets. The French are still fancy savouring its soft perfume notes in flans, vinegars, and salads. For modern home cooks, embracing lavender in the kitchen brings new possibilities to the creative process.
Yet for all its romance, cooking with lavender requires a delicate touch. Used properly, those tiny purple buds lend subtle magic – a slight floral sweetness, a grace note of herbaceous melody. Too much lavender overwhelms the senses. Follow this guide to seamlessly incorporate lavender into delectable baked goods, beverages, preserves, and beyond. We’ll cover choosing varieties, infusion methods, recipe ideas, and growing your own supply. Soon this charming herb will have you under its deliciously aromatic spell.
Lavender’s Culinary Uses
Lavender adds ethereal beauty and fragrance to a diverse array of edible creations:
– Baked goods – Cakes, cookies, scones, and breads benefit from lavender’s gentle floral sweetness.
– Beverages – Lavender shines in teas, lemonades, and cocktail infusions.
– Vinegar, oils, honey – Infusing lavender into pantry basics lends versatility.
– Jams, custards, ice cream – Complement fruit flavours by infusing them into sweet treats.
– Herb blends – small amounts of lavender jazz up meat rubs and salad dressings.
– Candies and garnish – Crystallize lavender or use petals for cake decoration.
The key is to use a light hand and high-quality food-grade lavender to allow its perfume to shine through.
Baked Goods with Lavender
Lavender’s sweet, floral aroma pairs beautifully with lemon, berries, vanilla, and chocolate. Start by substituting 1 tablespoon of dried lavender buds for 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Fold buds directly into batter or steep in milk or cream to infuse, then strain.
Favourite recipes for baked lavender include:
– Scones with lavender glaze
– Lavender sugar cookies
– Lavender-lemon breads and cakes
– Lavender macarons or French butter cookies
– Lavender honey cupcakes with lavender buttercream
– Lavender-blueberry muffins
– Lavender creme Brulé
– Lavender-infused chocolate truffles
For optimum flavour, look for buds with a deep purple colour. Dried lavender may be used in place of other herbs like rosemary or thyme for a floral twist.
Savory Lavender Dishes
While sweets spotlight lavender’s delicate nature, small savoury amounts add herbal depth and aroma to main dishes:
– Roasted chicken or lamb rubbed with lavender
– Infused olive oil for bread dipping
– Compound butter with lavender for fish
– Salad dressings and marinades
– Lavender-lemon pasta sauce
– Lavender steamed rice
– Infused sea salt for rims of cocktails or veggies
– Lavender honey glazed pork or shrimp
– Pot roast or tomato soup with lavender
– Lavender vinegar for greens or cucumber salad
– Lavender cream cheese
– Ice cream with lavender and fresh herbs
Use dried buds or oils sparingly to prevent soapy or perfumy flavours.
Lavender Tea and Drinks
Brewing teas and infusing cocktails allows lavender’s taste and aroma to shine:
– Chill lavender tea or infusion overnight to make ice cubes for lemonade, soda water, or punch
– Create custom herbal tea blends with lavender, mint, chamomile
– For floral complexity, blend teas half green tea, half lavender
– Make lavender simple syrup for cocktails by steeping buds in sugar water
– Lavender gin or vodka soda with lavender simple syrup or ice cubes
– Lavender mojitos with lavender-infused rum or simple syrup
– Iced lavender latte by steeping buds in warmed milk, then mixing milk with espresso
– Lavender hot chocolate with steamed lavender milk
Sip your favourite hot tea with a fresh lavender sprig inside the cup for a subtle infusion. Dried lavender buds may be steeped directly like other dried herbs for convenience.
Preserving with Lavender
Infusing vinegar, honey, and savoury preserves captures lavender’s summer essence year-round:
– Lavender honey – Gently warm raw honey with dried buds, up to 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces jar
– Lavender vinegar – Steep buds in white or apple cider vinegar for 2-4 weeks
– Jams – Make lavender blueberry, peach, or lemon curd jam
– Fruit shrubs – Infuse lavender vinegar with berries for a drinking vinegar
– Lavender sugar – Layer dried buds with sugar in an airtight jar for 1-2 weeks
– Pickled vegetables – Add lavender to the brine of pickles, onions, beets
– Lavender sea salt – Mix dried buds in salt, and allow to dry completely
– Ice creams and custards – Infuse milk or cream before churning or cooking
– Syrups for drinks – Make simple syrups with lavender instead of plain sugar
Growing Culinary Lavender
Not all lavender varieties taste pleasant when cooking. Carefully choose types specifically meant for culinary use:
– Grosso – Highly aromatic with a fruity essence, Grosso is excellent for cooking.
– Provence – Sweet, mellow floral notes make Provence a top culinary choice.
– Munstead – Subtly lemon-flavoured, ideal for baking.
– Melissa – Distinct citrus overtones.
– Jean Davis – Dense flavour perfect for infused vinegar and syrups.
Harvest buds just after flowers open when fragrant oils peak. Dry away from sunlight to preserve flavour. Store cooked creations in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling since lavender has antimicrobial properties.
With the right approach, a touch of lavender can transform food and drinks into elegant edible art.
Final Thoughts
Cooking and baking with edible lavender rewards the senses. Each blossom infuses its ethereal perfume into whatever it graces to elevate both taste and presentation. Beyond beauty, lavender adds herbal and floral layers that intrigue sophisticated palates. Yet used improperly, its melody overpowers. Mastering the right lavender varieties, infusion methods, and amounts takes experimentation. But once its culinary secrets are unlocked, a world of delicate delight awaits.
Savouring custom creations showcases not just the food itself, but the care infused into it. Take time to mindfully notice each sip, bite, and aroma as you bake bread dipped in lavender-scented oil or enjoy floral honey spreading sweetness through your morning tea. Taste the sunlit summer afternoons stored within lavender-kissed jam on your breakfast toast. Share it with loved ones to spread calm during hectic days.
Lavender in the kitchen cultivates joy and connection. Turn to its inspiration when creativity needs sparking. Soon this elegant herb will have you under its spell, eager to share its magical gifts.
Author
