Parsley

Parsley is widely used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Brazilian, and American cuisine. Curly leaf parsley is used often as a garnish. Green parsley is used frequently as a garnish on potato dishes (boiled or mashed potatoes), on rice dishes (risotto or pilaf), on fish, fried chicken, lamb, goose, and steaks, as well in meat or vegetable stews (including shrimp creole, beef bourguignon, goulash, or chicken paprikash).

 

 

Persillade is a mixture of chopped garlic and chopped parsley in French cuisine.

 

Parsley is the main ingredient in Italian salsa verde, which is a mixed condiment of parsley, capers, anchovies, garlic, and sometimes bread, soaked in vinegar. It is an Italian custom to serve it with bollito misto or fish. Gremolata, a mixture of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest, is a traditional accompaniment to the Italian veal stew, ossobuco alla milanese.

 

Parsley is a key ingredient in several Middle Eastern salads such as Lebanese tabbouleh; it is also often mixed in with the chickpeas and/or fava beans while making falafel (that gives the inside of the falafel its green color). It is also a main component of the Iranian stew ghormeh sabzi

Parsley is an easy-to-find seasoning herb. Some people use parsley leaves instead of salt on their food to reduce their sodium intake. Or they add it to a plate to dress up a meal. Parsley is widely available in most grocery stores and can even be grown at home.

 

Parsley tea is an herbal tea. Herbal teas are not made from leaves of the Camellia sinensis and do not contain caffeine. There are different kinds of parsley: curly leaf (Petroselinum crispum) and flat leaf (Petroselinum neapolitanum) or Italian parsley. The kind used in parsley tea is up to you, based on your flavor preferences.

As with all herbs, only consume in  small quantities as an additive. Excessive consumption of parsley should be avoided by pregnant women. Normal food quantities are safe for pregnant women, but consuming excessively large amounts may have uterotonic effects. If you have diabetes, fluid retention, high blood pressure, or kidney disease you should talk to your doctor to see if consuming parsley is safe for you as it may cause side effects that can worsen your condition. Patients who plan to undergo surgery are often advised to avoid parsley in the two weeks prior to their procedure.

Culinary herb, pthalides, coumarin, polyphenols.