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Nothing screams fall quite like the taste and smell of cooking with fresh sage leaves in the kitchen. Sage is often found in many holiday dishes and is commonly used to season poultry or sausage, infuse butter, or to add flavor to root vegetables like sweet potatoes or parsnips. In fact, the most common time youve probably tasted sage and not even known it is in a Thanksgiving stuffing. Like most herbs, sage is incredibly aromatic, so much so that you can often smell it before you even start cooking with it.
Also known by its scientific name, salvia officinalis, sage is sometimes referred to as common sage or garden sage—this is what youll typically find at your local grocery store. Sage is also considered a perennial plant, which means that, unlike annuals or biennials, it lives for more than two years and isnt limited to just one specific growing season.
A part of the mint “family,” sage is native to the Mediterranean and is pretty easy to spot amongst the other herbs at the store. Unlike rosemary, thyme, or parsley, sage leaves have a large oblong shape and often appear to have a fuzzy white outer texture, similar to peaches. While its common to find fresh sage leaves in this form, youll also find sage leaves dried and minced or “rubbed,” often in the spice aisle. Both kinds, however, can be used in the kitchen to create dishes with amazing flavor. Try some of the ideas below and see how you can cook with fresh sage and incorporate it into your dishes this fall.
Sage Sweet, bitter, sour, savory asparagus, beans, cherries, chicken, fatty meats, oily fish, goose, liver, pasta, potatoes, soups, stews, stuffing, tomatoes bay, caraway, ginger, paprika, parsley, thyme Fresh sage leaves are best picked and used as soon as possible.
If youre a fan of pasta, pizza, gelato, or anything else Italian, chances are, youre gonna love using sage with your beans as well – Italians are crazy about this combo! Theyve even named a bean dish Italian. The mild softness of beans and the rougher, earthy flavor of sage with a light citrusy note…it just works. So well. Also – eating beans is good for your brain!
Yes, we all know that we can make anything taste better if we fry it in oil and add sugar, but have you ever tried…deep-frying herbs? In this case – sage leaves? Its as simple as throwing fresh ones in boiling hot oil for just a few seconds, but using sage as garnish or seasoning for basically any dish in its crunchiest, most satisfying form will blow your mind.
The key to getting an out-of-the-ordinary gourmet omelet is…yes, you guessed it – using sage. We especially like scrambled eggs with cheese and fresh sage – so simple to make that theres barely a recipe to share. Just eggs, grated cheese, salt & pepper, and fresh sage leaves (chopped or whole – its up to you) – mix it all together and scramble away!
Anyone who has had Italian pork sausages with sage, will understand what were talking about. But it doesnt stop there – pork and sages marriage extends to burgers, meatballs, stews, steak (to die for), roasts and…bacon. Yes. Bacon.
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Fry sage in brown butter.
Fresh sage leaves are great when fried and used as a garnish on side dishes. Add a couple tablespoons of butter to a small skillet over medium heat. Cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Add around 10-12 sage leaves and fry, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add a pinch of salt and swirl to dissolve. Drizzle the sauce and sage leaves over roasted vegetables or a bowl of mashed potatoes.
Sage 101 – Foods That Go With Sage
FAQ
What does sage go well with?
What is good combination with sage?
What flavors go well with sage?
What can you eat with Sage?
Sage is an incredibly versatile herb that can be used to enhance the flavour of many dishes. Here are some food groups that pair perfectly with sage: Cheese – Sage and cheese are a classic combination, especially in pasta dishes. Fish – Add fresh sage leaves to fish fillets for a light, herbal taste.
What are the benefits of having sage tea?
Tea made from Sage leaves, the leaves are rich in ellagic acid which exhibits antioxidant properties. This tea is mostly used in the treatment of loss of appetite, gastritis, indigestion, diarrhea, heart burn. This tea also has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Excess dosage of sage tea will cause nausea, irritability and kidney damage.
What meat goes well with Sage?
It goes well with most meats (particularly ground meat), particularly beef, pork, lamb, game meats, and all poultry. It also pairs well with pastas, risottos, and gnocchi. Finely chopped it makes a fantastic addition to fillings for ravioli. Sage is also a great pairing with butter or oil.
What vegetables go well with Sage?
Cauliflower is another vegetable that pairs well with sage: the crunchiness of this significantly larger vegetable complements that of sage. Cauliflower is also milder than many other vegetables, making it a great candidate for pairing with other flavors. Sage brings out its natural sweetness, while adding its own deep taste to the mix. 12.