Cooking with Fresh Parsley
I think parsley is an herb that people should appreciate more, and here are my tips and recipes for Cooking with Fresh Parsley! In this post you’ll find lots of tips for growing parsley, and a bit about why I love parsley so much! And for everyone who loves parsley, there are 36 amazing recipes using it.
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Even though I grew up with a mom who would nibble the garnish of parsley from her plate when we ate in restaurants, I was well into adulthood before I developed a real appreciation of this grassy-flavored herb. Now I can’t get enough of it!
Some cooks adore the flat-leaf Italian parsley and ignore the curly type, but I like both, and actually prefer curly parsley in some salads where it adds an interesting texture.
In summer I love to use parsley combined with fresh mint, which I think brings out the flavor of both! And even though I grow parsley in my herb garden, I think one of the things that’s so great about parsley is that it’s inexpensive in the grocery store all year, making it easy to keep cooking with parsley all winter long when you just want a bit of fresh herb flavor.
Tips for Growing Parsley:
- In the garden parsley is a biennial, which means the plant will produce leaves for two years, although sometimes the first year the production is much less.
- I find it’s relatively easy to grow, and if you neglect your plants a little in the fall they’ll drop their seeds which keeps parsley plants coming up in that spot year after year.
- If you start parsley from purchased seed you’ll have to be patient because the seeds take a long time to germinate (although soaking them overnight before planting can help a lot.)
- Parsley plants do best when they’re trimmed through the season to remove seeds and dead leaves.
- There are two different types of parsley, flat leaf and curly parsley, and they are grown the same way.
What does fresh Parsley taste like?
I think most people who enjoy parsley would agree that it has somewhat of a grassy flavor, but in a good way! I’ve seen the flavor described as “a mild bitter”. But most of all I think it’s a fresh herby flavor that really goes well with many foods.
What Foods go with the flavor of fresh Parsley?
In many parts of the world, parsley is combined with other leafy herbs and eaten as a salad green, and I’ve come to love salads that have a generous amount of parsley. I also like it very much as an ingredient in ground meat dishes and soups or stews. I think parsley works especially well with tomatoes, cucumbers, dried beans, beef, chicken, lemon, garlic, mushrooms, peppers, and squash, but it’s good with many other flavors.
Parsley Recipes from Kalyn’s Kitchen and my food blogging friends:
This favorite Tuna White Bean Salad is a classic recipe that I made lower in carbs by using more tuna, adding celery, and using fewer beans!
Cheesy Zucchini with Garlic and Parsley is a delicious and quick way to cook zucchini and this is a perfect recipe for parsley fans!
Before I even had a blog my friend Massoud taught me to make this Middle Eastern Tomato Salad, and that may have been the beginning of my appreciation for parsley!
I think parsley and Feta is such a brilliant combination and I love it in this Cucumber Salad with Parsley and Feta!
Tuna Salad with Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Parsley, and Mint is a delicious summer salad that’s kind of a variation of my favorite Middle Eastern Tomato Salad, with the addition of tuna.
Tabbouleh Salad with Almonds uses almonds, parsley, and mint and much less bulgur wheat to make a more carb-conscious version of Tabbouleh Salad!
Grilled Sausage and Summer Squash with Lemon and Herbs is an absolutely WOW summer dish that’s a perfect recipe to use some parsley!
This Balela Salad (Middle Eastern Bean Salad) is a bit of a splurge on carbs, but I love this combination of flavors so much!
Grilled Middle Eastern Turkey Burgers are a recipe where the sum is so much greater than the parts, and if you think ground turkey can’t possibly be that exciting you have to try this recipe!
For years I’ve been a huge fan of Fattoush Lebanese Salad and this is something I make every summer when I have fresh mint and parsley in the herb garden. And of course I use low-carb pita chips for this favorite salad!
Spicy Grilled Eggplant is my brother Rand’s favorite eggplant recipe, and I like this with lots of parsley!
The fresh mint and parsley give this Lebanese Lentil Salad that middle-eastern salad flavor I love so much!
Parsley with Beans and Grains:
- Roasted Chickpeas with Raisins, Parsley, and Mint from The Perfect Pantry
- Quinoa Cakes with Lemon, Olive, and Parsley from Love and Olive Oil
- Parsley Hummus from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Balela Salad (Middle Eastern Bean Salad) from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Parsley with Vegetables:
- Lemon-Marinated Brussels Sprouts with Parsley and Shallots from The Kitchn
- Sauteed Radishes with Vinegar and Herbs from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Green Beans and Carrots with Charmoula Sauce from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Marinated Tomatoes with Herb Dressing from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Parsley with Meat, Poultry, or Fish:
- Shrimp with Cilantro-Parsley Sauce from My Colombian Recipes
- Saffron Chicken with Parsley and Lemon from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Air Fryer Salmon with Mustard-Herb Sauce from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Irish Beef Stew with Stout and Parsley Dumplings from Dinner with Julie
Parsley in Salads:
- Bulgur Wheat Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Parsley, and Mint from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Pinto Bean Salad with Tuna, Tomatoes, and Peperoncini from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Marinated Tomatoes with Herb Dressing from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Cannellini Bean and Tuna Salad with Peperoncini from Kalyn’s Kitchen
Parsley in Sauces and Dressings:
- Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Parsley-Cilantro Marinade and Dipping Sauce from Andrea Meyers
- How to Make Gremolata from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Parsley Pesto from Jessica in the Kitchen
Parsley in Soup:
- Parsnip Soup with Leeks and Parsley from Simply Recipes
- Summer Squash Soup with Parsley-Mint Pistou from Smitten Kitchen
- Gazpacho with Red and Yellow Tomatoes from Kalyn’s Kitchen
21 Comments on “Cooking with Fresh Parsley”
Growing up and as a young adult, I had only eaten parsley with new buttered potatoes in the Spring.
I noticed that you did not mention that dish. Is that just an east coast dish? Once I grew it in my garden, I began to use it more often. Especially enjoy it in salad dressings.
Hi Shelby. My site is focused on carb-conscious recipes so I don’t have any recipes for potatoes! But that sounds delicious. Love the idea of parsley in salad dressing!
thanks Kalyn for highlighting this unappreciated herb. I love fresh parsley and both flat and curly have their place. Parsley adds a lot of freshness and brightness to dishes. Bring it on!
Thanks Vicki! So glad to hear it’s useful for you.
I admit that I like the flat leaf parsley better, but any parsley adds flavor and texture and has such health benefits. I use dried parsley flakes a lot, too. Parsley is also detoxifying and removes the bloat per Beth at Delectably Free. Sometimes one needs that. 😉
Oh my, all of these look scrumptious. I love parsley in salads and always have Italian parsley growing in pots.
Kalyn, just wanted to share two recipes I've made with parsley in a starring role. Grilled Chicken with Parsley Salad: http://jeanetteshealthyliving.com/2012/03/grilled-chicken-with-parsley-salad-and-sun-dried-tomatoes-recipe.html
Chimichurri Sauce (a favorite of my kids on just about anything) http://jeanetteshealthyliving.com/2010/10/how-to-dress-up-a-roasted-chicken-chimichurri-recipe.html
Jane, hope you enjoy experimenting with it!
I must admit, I am guilty of only using parsley as a garnish, but you inspired me to plant some in my garden! I had no idea it was a biennial. Lots of recipes for me to try now, thank you 🙂
Lydia, I am thinking parsley might be the herb I use most often too, now that I think about it! Love the way it tastes so fresh.
Of all the herbs I grow in my garden, parsley is the one I use most often. Fresh parsley is nothing like the limp parsley in my supermarket; it's vibrant, in both color and flavor, and completely changes the nature of any dish. Thanks for including my recipes in this terrific list. I'm taking away a lot of new ideas!
Pam, when mine goes to seed like that, I just cut the plant way back and it sends out new stems and leaves.
Parsley does not do well for me at all. It just bolts in the summer heat after a couple of weeks. Tips?
TW, hope your parsley will have a growth spurt and surprise you. I love the sound of parsley spread!
These pictures just pop! The green parsley is so vivid! My poor garden parsley is struggling a bit. But today at the farmers market I picked up a batch of something called "parsley spread," a very fresh, pesto-style dip. One way or another, I will get my greens!
Jeanette, it is something I ALWAYS have in the fridge or garden!
It is funny how parsley is so often overlooked and used just as a garnish. Love this nice collection of recipes where parsley plays a starring role.
Thanks Heather! I agree about the way parsley just brightens up the flavors when you use it in a dish.
Fresh parsley just makes every dish fresh and vibrant. What a collection you have! (I adore your parsley hummus and actually posted a version of it about a year ago!) I can't wait to try some of your salads.
Amanda, I knew you would! Thanks for sharing a recipe.
Awesome collection Kalyn! I definitely have parsley growing in my garden. I've pinned this collection to save it. Here's my favorite super fast chicken recipe using parsley, yum! http://amandascookin.com/2009/06/chicken-with-garlic-parsley.html