How to Use Parsley

Parsley is thought of by some as nothing more than a mere garnish. While it does make a make a fine garnish with its dark green and frilly foliage, it has many other uses too. Consider popping the garnish in your mouth after a meal for its health benefits. It also is a seasoning in many dishes.

Ear raw parsley for its many health benefits. Parsley is one of the best sources of vitamin C, containing more of the vitamin by volume than oranges. Parsley is also high in vitamin A, B vitamins, calcium and iron.

Take parsley after a meal. Parsley is a breath freshener, so after you have finished your meal, you can freshen your breath and get some important nutrients with the garnish.

Use fresh, dried or frozen parsley in cooking. While dried parsley is readily available at grocery stores, fresh or frozen parsley have better flavors. Italian parsley is most commonly used in cooking because it has a better flavor than the curly-leafed variety used as a garnish.

Add parsley to almost any savory dish to help bring out the flavors of other spices. Parsley in food works to blend flavors and therefore can be used in almost anything except sweets. Add it to fish, poultry and vegetables especially. It also compliments harsh flavors such as garlic because it reduces the harshness but does not completely cover up the flavor.

Plant both the curly-leaf parsley variety and flat-leaf Italian parsley variety along borders in flower, herb and vegetable gardens. The bright green foliage garnishes gardens as well as plates. It's compact growing habit makes it perfect for border uses.

Try growing parsley as a houseplant. Parsley can grow in front of a sunny window during the winter to give you a year round supply of fresh parsley for medicinal and culinary uses.