Greetings friends and brothers of Farms today we are going to discover the thyme, its properties and uses. It is a typically Mediterranean plant that grows spontaneously, but is also grown because it is widely used in cooking and also in herbal medicine.
Thyme is a perennial aromatic plant that resembles a shrub with woody stem, whose height can vary from 10 to 30 centimeters. The thymus has branches rich in leaves of a grayish green color, blooms from spring to summer and its flowers are of a color that can vary from white to pink to lilac.
Two of the best known varieties of thyme are:
The Thymus vulgaris that has a more intense aroma.
Thymus serphillo that differs because the plant is thinner and has a more delicate and less intense aroma, and it is preferred in the cooking in comparison with the vulgar thyme.
There is also Thymus citriodorus which is characterized by a slight touch of lemon, its frequent use is in the kitchen or as an ornament, while it is not used in herbal medicine.
Thyme: properties and benefits
In the thyme, fresh and dried leaves and flowers are used.
The flowers and leaves contain an active ingredient called thymol on which the aromatic, digestive, laxative, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties depend, the latter in particular in relation to lung and bronchial affections.
Scam: recipes and uses in the kitchen.
In the kitchen this aromatic plant can be accompanied by different types of dishes, soups, meats, fillings, sauces and sauces, tortillas and fish. Compared to food, thyme helps to preserve it and prevents the formation of mold.
An excellent recipe to try are baked potatoes with thyme:
It is necessary to peel approximately 1.5 kg of potatoes and then cook them in boiling water for a few minutes with the peel.
Meanwhile, cut a shallot, chop, put the potatoes in pieces (if they are small cut in half) in a pan and sprinkle with shallots and extra virgin olive oil.
Pass a handful of thyme, salt and pepper according to taste and place it in the oven at 200 ° for approximately 40 minutes.
Very easy to prepare, tasty and also healthy as a recipe ...
How to keep the thyme?
Although it is recommended to use fresh thyme within a week, if you buy an excessive amount, you should know that the leaves of this plant can be stored for a long time. To preserve them for a long time, however, it is necessary to scrupulously follow the drying process and keep them in a sterile bottle.
This process is divided into four phases:
Washing: first we will wash the branches with the leaves united under a stream of running water. It is best not to remove the leaves of the branch before this phase, otherwise it will be difficult to promote them.
Dry the leaves: we reach the second phase. We will pack a sheet of kitchen paper, place the thyme branches and make sure all the water dries, leaving everything in a ventilated place.
Remove the leaves: once the twigs are completely dry, remove the leaves from the branches and let them dry a few days, turning them from time to time. They will take a light brown tone.
- Finally, once dry, place the thyme leaves inside a hermetically sealed glass container, previously sterilized with boiling water.
They will not preserve all the properties of fresh thyme, but they will be an additional resource for your pantry, and they will lend themselves well to seasoning soups, meats and other dishes.