It tastes best fresh, dried or frozen it loses its aroma. We're talking about chives. This plant, which requires little care, is very versatile in the kitchen.

Harvesting chives: what, when and how?

You can harvest all parts of the plant. Both the small bulbs in the ground and the tufted leaves, the stems, the flower buds and the white flowers are edible. As a rule, mainly the leaves and flower buds are harvested.

Chives can be harvested several times a year. If sown in spring, soil starts from June and extends to late summer. If the hardy chives were planted last year, with luck you can start harvesting from March.

The garlic chives are cut off with scissors. Caution: Do not remove all the leaves at once to avoid shocking the plant. Cut the leaves at least 5 cm from the ground. This means that the new shoot tips are not accidentally damaged. Also, remember to only harvest as much as you actually intend to use.

uses for the leaves

The leaves should be used fresh or added to the food at the end of the cooking process. In addition to dishes with an Asian touch, they are excellent for seasoning:

  • salads
  • soups
  • curd dishes
  • sandwiches
  • scrambled eggs
  • Tarte
  • fish dishes
  • Herb butter
  • potatoes

Uses for the flower buds and flowers

The buds of the flowers that appear in August are also edible and tasty. They taste best when they are closed, green and plump. The flowers are used more for decorative purposes such as decorating and serving sweet desserts and fruit plates. You can use the flower buds:

  • for frying
  • for stews and soups
  • for smoothies
  • for salads
  • for cold plates

How does chives affect the body?

The leaves, which taste like garlic, have an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, digestive, blood pressure-regulating, anti-cancer and cholesterol-lowering effect on the body. They also strengthen the immune system. The pleasantly sweet-tasting flowers are less medicinal.

tips and tricks

Chives do not keep for long after harvest. Put it in a glass of water at home. Then it will keep for up to 3 days.

Category:

Herbs