Sage!
My sage plant has been growing like a weed lately and I have much more fresh sage on hand than normal. Like, handfuls of it. I'm not complaining, but I am looking for some new uses for it.
What would you do with all this fresh sage?
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22 Comments:
First of all, I'd remind myuself that you can cut a sage bush waaaay back. Mine is about 10 years old, lives outdoors in Missouri, and every spring, I cut it back about 50%. You'll always have more than you can use. But the blooms are nice.
lemons at 7:17PM on 02/25/08
When I hear "handsful of herbs" I think pesto. So I googled sage pesto and came up with:
Grilled Chicken Sandwiches With Sage Pesto And Apples
Pesto di Salvia Cinque di Vino (Federico Bacci's Sage Pesto)
Spaghetti with Walnut Sage Pesto
plus more like:
Penne pasta with almond and sage pesto
Fried Sage Pesto-Stuffed Chicken
Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Pesto
kjgibson at 7:24PM on 02/25/08
roast chicken with veggies (with herbs in the cavity of the chicken), dressing, or dry it. I wish mine would take off, instead of just sitting there.
beth1 at 7:53PM on 02/25/08
Ravioli (like butternut squash) with a butter and sage sauce (improvise for infinite variety with lemon, garlic, nutmeg, etc), but just the simple combo of butter and sage is delicious.
xaire at 8:18PM on 02/25/08
Sorry! I thought you were looking for someone to dispense prudent advice?
srhcb at 8:32PM on 02/25/08
fried and crumbled over popcorn!
mendicity at 11:12PM on 02/25/08
Sage is one of my most favorite herbs. It goes with so many things...
Beans. So good in some bean soup... with a hamhock... mmmmmmmm
Anything poultry. Always.
Homemade sausage.
Stuffing. Even if you're not making poultry.
Lamb.
Pork.
Mushrooms.
All kins of Mediterranean dishes...
So many possibilities!
LoCo at 11:33PM on 02/25/08
I like to take a great handful of sage and stuff it into a chicken along with a lemon, quartered, and cook it on the rotisserie. If I was buying the sage, I'd be frugal, but when that plant is in full swing, I get really generous with it.
I also love a sage and brown butter sauce when I make butternut squash gnocci. Sorry, no recipe, I just play it by ear. Maybe a little parmesan when I serve it, but it doesn't need it.
dbcurrie at 12:07AM on 02/26/08
Deep fried sage leaves sprinkled with powdered sugar. Use to garnish a sweet olive oil cake. Trust me on this one...
HunterAnglerGardenerCook at 12:38AM on 02/26/08
Pork chops with sage and sauteed apples...mmmmm...
Julie at 1:43AM on 02/26/08
There is the obvious options like using it in stuffings and things, but I like to use herbs as kind of a lettuce replacement in sandwiches. I do it often with basil. I know that fresh herbs have a really strong taste, so you wouldn't need too many leaves. Also, I've noticed that Michael Chiarello from the food network is like, OBSESSED with sage. He uses it all the time, I've even seen him fry it and use it in salads and as a deliciously edible garnish. You might want to look up some of his sage-friendly recipes on the Food Network website.
PumpkinBear at 5:37AM on 02/26/08
I'd start either drying it, so much better than store bought dried sage, or even freeze it. of course you could send some south to us poor ppl who cant grow fungus if we tried. lol my thumb has been deemed slimy black by the gardening clubs: (
huney_bumper at 7:59AM on 02/26/08
Saltimbocca!!
LiveToEat at 9:44AM on 02/26/08
I love sage! I think it works really well when paired with sweet things - like a sausage/apple bread pudding, or anything with butternut squash (maybe a lasagna), or simply sauteed with olive oil and garlic, tossed with pasta and topped with Parmesan. MMM.
bitchincamero at 10:21AM on 02/26/08
Roasted chicken, butternut squash soup (use it to flavor the stock and fry some leaves for garnish), sauteed corn, corn fritters, polenta ...
NuJoi at 1:45PM on 02/26/08
Sage ice-cream. Sounds odd, but it's remarkably good.
thebasilqueen at 2:22PM on 02/26/08
For Loco - from Cooks Illustrated Test Recipes
No-Roll Pizza Bianca with Capicola and Fontina
Serves 4
We prefer the pizza prepared with sweet capicola, but hot capicola can be used. If both are unavailable substitute
thinly sliced proscuitto and cut each piece in thirds widthwise. Once the dough has been placed in the oiled bowl, it
can be transferred to the refrigerator and kept for up to 24 hours. Bring the dough to room temperature, 2 to 2 1/2
hours, before proceeding with step 4 of the recipe. When kneading the dough on high speed, the mixer has a
tendency to wobble and walk on the counter. Place a towel or shelf liner under the mixer and watch at all times while
mixing. Handle the dough with slightly oiled hands. Resist flouring fingers or dough might stick further. This recipe
was developed using a 18- by 13-inch baking sheet. Smaller baking sheets can be used, but because the pizza will
be thicker baking times will be in the higher range. If not using a pizza stone, increase baking temperature to 500
degrees and set rack to lowest position. Cooking times might increase by 3 to 5 minutes.
3 cups (15 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 2/3 cups (13 1/2 ounces) water, room temperature
1 1/4 teaspoons table salt
1 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons sugar
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 ounces sliced capicola (20 to 25 thin slices), cut into quarters
2 teaspoons minced fresh sage leaves
8 ounces fontina, shredded (about 2 cups)
1. Mix flour, water, and table salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with dough hook on low speed, until no areas of dry
flour remain, 3 to 4 minutes, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl. Turn mixer off and let dough rest for 20
minutes.
2. Sprinkle yeast and sugar over dough. Knead on low speed until fully combined, 1 to 2 minutes, occasionally
scraping down sides of bowl. Increase mixer speed to high and knead dough until glossy, smooth, and pulls away
from sides of bowl, 6 to 10 minutes. (Dough will only pull away from sides while mixer is on. When mixer is off dough
will fall back to sides.)
3. Using fingers, coat large bowl with 1 tablespoon of oil, rubbing excess oil from fingers onto blade of rubber
spatula. Using oiled spatula, transfer dough to bowl and pour 1 tablespoon of oil over top. Flip dough over once so it
is well coated with oil; cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let dough rise at room temperature until nearly tripled in volume
and large bubbles have formed, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
4. One hour before cooking pizza, adjust oven rack to middle position, place pizza stone on rack, and heat oven to
450 degrees.
5. Coat rimmed baking sheet with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Using rubber spatula, turn dough out onto baking
sheet along with any oil in bowl. Using fingertips, press dough out towards edges of pan taking care not to tear
dough. (Dough will not fit snuggly into corners. If dough resists stretching let it relax for 5 to 10 minutes before trying
to stretch again). Let dough rest in pan until slightly bubbly, 5 to 10 minutes. Using dinner fork, poke surface of
dough 30 to 40 times. 6. Bake until top is spotty brown, 15 to 17 minutes. Remove pizza from oven and distribute
capicola evenly over dough; sprinkle with sage and fontina. Return pizza to oven and continue to bake until edges
are golden brown and cheese has begun to brown in spots, 5 to 10 minutes longer. Using metal spatula, transfer
pizza to cutting board. Slice and serve immediately.
jcrisco at 3:18PM on 02/26/08
I LOVE to pair sage with chicken; it reminds me of my grandmother
hungrychristel at 4:51PM on 02/26/08
I second the chicken and sage suggestions like saltimbocca. Also, this roasted chicken with prunes and sage by Dave Lieberman is delicous and weeknight simple:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_30351,00.html
I also like sage with butternut squash (risotto, soup, roasted) and came up with this recipe for a fall pizza that prominently features sage:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/1227896
And here's my take on saltimbocca using smoked mozzarella and sage:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/1228657
Otabenga at 5:19PM on 02/26/08
When I was in Israel, people would take fresh sage and make an herbal tea out of it - just put a few sprigs in a mug and pour boiling water over them, then add some sugar. It ends up having an unexpectedly lemony flavor, but with sage's bite and depth. Enjoy!
tacroy80 at 1:31PM on 02/27/08
I use SAGE in my tomato soup. I also add parsley and basil to the soup. I love the smokey plus hint of sweet (fromthe basil) taste that cuts the tomato acidity just a bit. I also do the same with my mixed veggie soup. TASTY!
cori2722 at 11:09AM on 03/03/08
A beurre noisette with sage is so perfect with gnocchi, tortellini or orzo. Toss in some toasted walnuts or pine nuts, top with shaved parmesano reggiano and you have a beautiful dish as an entree (add some butternut squash chunks) or a side with pork tenderloin or chicken.
There is a great recipe for Chicken w/ Sage Cream Sauce in Cuisine mag. (You know, the one you get free like every other month. Don't throw the next one away!) The chicken is crusted with panko and sauteed, then topped with a luscious sauce made with heavy cream. It's one of my husband's favs.
frederika at 9:05PM on 03/03/08