- The four kinds of parsley
- Leaf parsley with smooth leaves
- Curled or moss-curled parsley
- root parsley
- Japanese Parsley or Mitsuba
- tips and tricks
Most consumers are familiar with parsley as leaf parsley with either smooth or curly leaves. Root parsley is used much less frequently for seasoning. Japanese parsley, whose taste is similar to that of celery, is still relatively unknown.
The four kinds of parsley
- leaf parsley
- Curled or moss-curled parsley
- root parsley
- Japanese parsley
Leaf parsley with smooth leaves
It is the forerunner of the parsley found in Europe. Their taste is much more intense than that of mossy varieties.
Top chefs prefer flat-leaf parsley not only because it tastes more aromatic, but because it's much easier to clean.
If you want to grow parsley as a herb in the garden, you should plant flat-leaf parsley varieties.
Curled or moss-curled parsley
Monks once grew this variety of parsley. Its curly leaves make it easier to distinguish from the poisonous dog's parsley.
Curly parsley is mainly used to decorate food, as the leaves, which are reminiscent of moss, have a much more decorative effect on food. Their taste is nowhere near as spicy as that of flat-leaf parsley.
Curly parsley is harder to clean because the folds in the leaves are good for hiding dirt and insects. It therefore has to be washed longer and then dried well so that it does not water down the food.
root parsley
Parsley roots are grown because of the strong roots. The leaves are also edible.
Parsley roots are mainly used as a seasoning for hearty stews and vegetable dishes. To do this, the roots are peeled and boiled.
Japanese Parsley or Mitsuba
Like leaf parsley, Japanese parsley can be grown in the garden or on the balcony. However, it is only partially hardy and must either overwinter indoors or be sown every year.
Their taste is more reminiscent of celery than parsley.
In contrast to European leaf parsley, Japanese parsley is usually added to the dish at the end of the cooking time. It can also be used raw as a seasoning or for decoration.
tips and tricks
Flat-leaf parsley looks confusingly similar to the dog parsley that grows wild on field edges. Dog parsley is highly toxic and can even cause respiratory paralysis if consumed in large quantities. It can be distinguished from the non-poisonous species primarily by its unpleasant smell.
ce