Parsley
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a
bright green biennial herb. It is used in Middle Eastern, European,
and American cooking. The leaf of Parsley is used in a similar way
as coriander (also known as Chinese parsley or cilantro), but
parsley has a milder flavor.
There are two Varieties of parsley that are used as herbs: curly
leaf (P. crispum) and Italian, or flat leaf (P. neapolitanum). Curly
leaf parsley is more often used as a garnish. One of the compounds
of the essential oil is apiol. The use of curly leaf parsley may be
favored by some because it cannot be confused with poison hemlock,
like flat leaf parsley or chervil.
Throughout history, parsley has been used for cooking as well as for
medicinal purposes but has also been used for a lot more. Early
Greeks used Parsley to make crowns for the Olympian winners. Hebrew
tradition uses Parsley as part of Passover as a symbol of spring and
rebirth. Parsley tracks all the way back to Hippocrates who used it
for medicinal purposes for cure alls and as an antidote for poisons.
He also used it for ridding kidney and bladder stones. Many of these
prior claims have been validated through modern science and it is
true that Parsley is rich in vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, E and C and
is also shown to clear toxins from the body and reduces
inflammation.
Parsley has three times the amount of Vitamin C than oranges do. In
much earlier times, Parsley was used to treat any ailments that was
thought to be caused from a lack of Vitamin C like bad gums or loose
teeth, and for brightening of the eyes. Parsley was also used
successfully to ward off Malaria. When crushed and rubbed on the
skin, parsley can reduce itching in mosquito bites.
Parsley aides with water retention, so it helps with bladder and
kidney functions as well as being good for the liver, lungs, stomach
and thyroid. Parsley can help rheumatoid arthritis, can be used as a
stimulant, help with menstrual regulation, to settle the stomach,
and as an appetite stimulant. Parsley can freshen bad breath when it
is chewed, but consuming parsley does not fight halitosis. You can
purchase Parsley juice at herbal stores and it can be very healthy
for you although it might not taste the greatest it can be mixed
with other juices to enhance the flavor. Dried Parsley really has
the least amount of nutritional value to it.
Health Risks
Parsley should not be consumed as a drug or supplement by pregnant
women. Parsley as an oil, root, leaf, or seed could lead to uterine
stimulation and preterm labor.
Culinary use
Parsley is used as an herb or use it as a garnish. It has very easy
access in purchasing it or growing it. Storing it is simple, just
wrap it is a damp paper towel and place it in a baggie and store it
in the refrigerator. Parsley is used for all kinds of sauces and
salads. Parsley can pretty much be added to anything and is used
often to color pestos.
In Central and Eastern Europe and in West Asia, many dishes are
served with fresh green chopped parsley sprinkled on top. The fresh
flavor of the green parsley goes extremely well with potato dishes
like boiled buttered potatoes or mashed potato, with rice dishes
(risotto or pilaf), with fish, fried chicken, lamb or goose, steaks,
meat or vegetable stews like beef bourguignon, goulash or chicken
paprikash. In Southern and Central Europe, parsley is part of
bouquet garni, a bundle of fresh herbs used to flavor stocks, soups,
and sauces. Freshly chopped green parsley is used as a topping for
soups like chicken soup or green salads. Parsley is a key ingredient
in several West Asian salads, such as tabbouleh (the national dish
of Lebanon). Persillade is mixture of chopped garlic and chopped
parsley in the French cuisine. Gremolata is a traditional
accompaniment to the Italian veal stew, ossobuco alla milanese, a
mixture of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest.
Root parsley is very common in Central and Eastern European
cuisines, where it is used as soup vegetable in many soups and in
most meat or vegetable stews and casseroles.
Garden
Parsley is easy to grow in a garden and is widely used as a
companion plant by attracting predatory insects, including wasps and
flies to gardens, which then tend to protect plants nearby. For
example, they are especially useful for protecting tomato plants as
the wasps that kill tomato hornworms also eat nectar from parsley.
While parsley is biennial, not blooming until its second year, even
in its first year it is reputed to help cover up the strong scent of
the tomato plant, reducing pest attraction.
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