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Thyme is a spice, a fragrant herb used for culinary, cosmetic, and medical purposes. It is a small shrub with thin branches. This herb is a Middle Eastern spice, where you can find whole fields of it. Many believe that thyme has magical properties.
Since ancient times, villagers have used grass as a means of folk medicine.
The Story
Thyme is a rather ancient type of spice. Due to the high level of mystification of the herb, there are many variants of thyme’s origin. Most of them are fiction and beliefs.
The Romans actively used thyme for food, considering it excellent protection against all kinds of poisons. In wartime, the opponents used poisonous arrows as weapons, which quickly neutralized the soldiers of the Roman army.
Roman emperors also loved thyme. They believed in the antidote of thyme and took baths with the fragrant herb.
Roman troops considered thyme a symbol of bravery and courage. The Greeks shared the position of the Romans. They set fire to bunches of grass and let their warriors inhale the earthy flavor.
In the 14th century, Europe faced a serious disease – the plague. At that time, residents discovered the healing properties of the fragrant smell of thyme.
They sniffed the smell of grass, trying to protect themselves and heal. Specialists have not proven these properties from a scientific point of view, but they found an antiseptic in the thyme. In the Victorian era, people also believed in the mystical and healing properties of the herb. The Victorians counted that thyme is planted in the forest by the fairies.
At that time, nurses also used the antiseptic properties of thyme to make bandages for wounds.
Types of thyme
There are many similar types of thyme. It is difficult for a layman to distinguish them, each species is a small shrub. All varieties of thyme have a strong aroma. Experts distinguish two main types of fragrant herbs:
- Ordinary thyme. You will immediately recognize this species – because it is much taller than the others (about 50 cm in height). The flowers are light, oblong in shape, with a minty flavor.
- Creeping thyme. This species is distinguished by a brown stem and pink leaves. Specialists most often use this type for medical purposes.
Chemical composition
The properties of this herb are amazing. Experts proved that thyme has high biological activity. This herb is high in calories. Just 100 grams can contain up to 300 of them.
However, you should pay attention to the vitamin and mineral complex of thyme. The highest content: vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin B. Among the minerals, calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, and phosphorus predominate.
Another beneficial component is essential oil. It gives thyme a strong antiseptic property. Essential oils improve the condition of the stomach, restoring the state of the microflora.
Many experts note the importance of ursolic acid, which improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Health benefits
The rich chemical composition of thyme causes a high biological activity of the herb. It has the following properties:
- Strong antiseptic effect. Thyme can kill germs and reduce inflammation. In some cases, this herb is even able to resist even the effects of antibiotics.
- Benefits for lung diseases. Thyme can expand the bronchus, improving the outflow of mucus from the lungs. You can also use thyme as a means to soothe a severe cough.
- A remedy for dermatological problems. If you suffer from a rash or peeling on the skin – use a decoction and thyme compresses.
- Copes with stomach diseases. A decoction of thyme improves the condition of patients suffering from gastritis and stomach ulcers.
- A strong sedative. Thyme helps to cope well with disorders of the nervous system. Decoctions of fresh and dried herbs improve the quality of sleep and relieve stress.
Are thyme and oregano the same?
Thyme and oregano are quite similar spices for many people. The famous herbs de Provence are close in flavor and taste. They also belong to the same mint family of herbs. However, there are several significant differences between them.
- Appearance. Oregano has a branched stem of medium size. The leaves of this herb are sharp. Thyme also has a low straight stem with small round leaves. According to the coloring of the flowers, the plants also differ: oregano seems to be more noticeable due to the purple flower.
- Taste and aroma. Fresh thyme, like oregano, has an earthy taste. It seems a little sweet and bitter notes. However, thyme has a less tart taste and aroma than oregano.
- Chemical composition. Oregano contains a whole set of vitamins, a larger amount is occupied by tannins. Thyme has an almost identical vitamin composition, but it contains more flavonoids.
What flavor does thyme add?
Thyme can be both herbs and spices. It has a special flavor that can complement many dishes. Professional chefs add thyme to many recipes.
The smell of this spice adds an unusually sweet-bitter taste to the food. It is hard to find an alternative to thyme because, in addition, it gives notes of earthy flavor. This contradictory taste in combination with different products reveals itself in different ways.
Professional chefs most often use thyme to prepare sweet and spicy dishes. Fresh herbs serve not only as an addition to the main dish but are also a good decoration.
You can combine spices with oil to make a marinade for the oil. You can also make a spice mixture with thyme to add to soups and other dishes.
Can you skip thyme in the recipe?
Thyme gives dishes an unusual taste, you should take this into account when studying the necessary ingredients of certain dishes. Is it possible to skip it in the recipe? You should not underestimate the place of thyme in the recipe.
A full taste of the dish may depend on the aroma of this herb. It is better to replace it with a similar analog.
Thyme VS rosemary
Thyme and rosemary are close relatives from the point of view of botany. However, they are not similar in taste or smell. Both spices contain essential oils, which experts widely use in cooking and medicine.
- Appearance. Rosemary, unlike thyme, is a taller shrub. Its flowers are not white, but purple. They stand out with a complex shape, a bit like a bell.
- Taste and aroma. The taste of rosemary is more vivid and pronounced than the taste of thyme. It is bitter-sharp, complex in the composition of oils. Unlike thyme, it does not have sweet notes. We can characterize rosemary’s aroma as a combination of lemon and eucalyptus notes.
- Scope of application. Experts have limited the scope of rosemary consumption to cooking. They use it in a great number of popular recipes. Thyme, despite, has a wide range of uses: cooking, medicine, and cosmetology.
Can I use rosemary instead of thyme for steak?
Professional chefs believe that fresh rosemary is a side dish for steak, not an ingredient. It adds the desired flavor and serves as a beautiful decoration for serving dishes.
Dry rosemary with oil can already serve as a spice or marinade. Cooks know an interesting fact – butter reveals the aroma of rosemary well.
There is another beneficial life hack – put a branch of rosemary under the meat during frying. The aroma will be able to be absorbed into the dish evenly.
Meat is a coarse product with a pronounced taste. Rosemary with its acutely bitter taste will be able to complement this dish well, especially during the frying process. Thyme is sweeter, it is more suitable as a sauce.
What can I use instead of rosemary?
Rosemary has many great substitutes. The simplest and most affordable of them is dried rosemary. However, there are many other options.
- Thyme. Universal and the best substitute for rosemary. It has a similar taste and smell, but it can give dishes a sweet taste.
- Oregano. You can use the seasoning not only as a thyme substitute but also as a substitute for rosemary. Oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary are a single mint family. These herbs have an earthy taste, so they complement each other perfectly. You can also easily get them at any store.
- Basil. This spice belongs to some Italian seasonings. The taste of basil is quite spicy, it can overlap the main taste of the dish. You should take this into account when choosing this substitute.
- Savory and marjoram. You can use these similar spices as a substitute for rosemary in a ratio of 1:1. The only negative is the high salt content.
- Tarragon. This herb has a strong deciduous aroma. Many people note the similarity of the aroma of tarragon with anise. You should take into account that tarragon will be able to cover the overwhelming taste of the dish.
What can be used instead of thyme
There are many substitutes for thyme. You can select the desired option from the following list:
- Carnation. This substitute is perfect for marinades. It is best to add cloves at the end of cooking, so the taste of the herb will be better revealed.
- Coriander. It is a great option for salting meat and fish.
- Zira. You can use this herb in any form. It has a nutty taste. You can replace thyme with cumin in the case of cooking meat and fish.
- Sage. This herb not only goes well with thyme but can also become its substitute. Use sage for fish, vegetables, mushrooms, and poultry.
- Saffron. It is an expensive substitute for thyme, which has a spicy and strong aroma. Use saffron for pilaf and meat.
- Badian. Another name for this herb is star anise. It has a bitter and pronounced aroma. Add star anise at the end of cooking meat or fish.
- Basil. It is an excellent substitute for fresh thyme. This herb has a cold taste of allspice. Add this seasoning to salads, tomato sauce, and canned cucumbers.
Thyme substitute for chicken
Professional chefs often use fresh or dried thyme to cook chicken. The sweet-bitter taste of the herb perfectly reveals the taste of tender chicken meat. The light taste of the seasoning will not block the main taste of the dish. Tarragon and rosemary will be excellent substitutes for thyme.
Substitute for thyme in french onion soup
One of the dishes that perfectly reveals the full spectrum of the aroma of herbs is mushroom soup. You will need the following ingredients:
- Champignons – 200 g
- Chicken broth – 1 liter
- Butter – 2 tablespoons
- Wheat flour – 1 tablespoon
- Yolk – 1 pc.
- Cream – 0.5 cups
- Salt – 0.5 teaspoons
- Ground black pepper – 0.25 teaspoons
- Green onion for serving – 1-2 pcs.
- Thyme
Step-by-step instructions for preparing:
- Peel, slice, and rinse the onion.
- Wash, peel, and finely chop the mushrooms.
- Fry the onion in butter for about 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped mushrooms to the pan and fry for about five more minutes.
- Add flour to the pan and mix.
- Add thyme to the pan and fry for 45 minutes on low heat.
- Use a blender and grind the resulting mass.
- Separate the yolk and pour the cream into it. Whisk the egg yolks with cream.
- Pour the yolk and cream mixture and the blender mixture into the pan.
- Preheat, add salt, and serve.
You can replace the fragrant thyme with rosemary or oregano. They will be able to emphasize the taste of onion soup.
Conclusion
Fresh or dried thyme is an excellent seasoning with an ancient mystical history. Since ancient times, healers have used the antiseptic properties of the herb to treat many diseases. Later, chefs began to use fresh thyme in cooking.
Due to its earthy-sweet taste, the seasoning is in great demand among lovers of spicy cuisine.
There are many natural substitutes for this spice, the main of which are: rosemary, oregano, and basil. These herbs have a similar bright taste and aroma.
Choose a more affordable and pleasant-tasting thyme substitute for your dishes!