Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Shop, cook, eat, drink, post, repeat.
 
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:10 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 11:05 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:56 am
Posts: 531
Location: Virginia
I asked my daughter to buy another thyme plant for the garden and she picked up lemon thyme by mistake. I've heard of it (in a movie, truth be told), but have never used it. Any ideas when it's interchangeable with regular thyme? I'm definitely not an intuitive cook as far as substitutions so I'm inclined to try and take it back and switch it for regular thyme. But perhaps I should expand my herb horizons?

Emilie


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 9:07 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:01 am
Posts: 1287
Location: Denver
Emilie
If you already have a regular thyme plant in your garden, I would suggest you keep the lemon thyme and experiment. You can substitute one for the other and you will still have a thyme base with a subtle lemon flavor....break off a leaf and taste and smell the difference. It has a lemony fragrance and that's part of its charm.

_________________
Ilene


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:34 am 
Offline

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:45 pm
Posts: 1531
Location: Ottawa, ON
We've grown lemon thyme along with regular thyme many times. It is definitely not a general 'sub' though; its lemony flavour is definitely strong enough to throw off some dishes, but of course enhance others. You can usually just kinda of go by what would go with your dish, and if lemon definitely isn't one of those things, don't use lemon thyme. It seems to me that the lemon part is pretty volatile and disappears when you cook it for a bit, but I could be dreaming.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:42 am 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
Posts: 5280
Location: Portland, OR
Lemon thyme is excellent for salad dressings and fish, though. I used to have some before the bugs got it all.

I also have something which was billed as "lemon oregano", but it just tastes like regular oregano.

_________________
The Fuzzy Chef
Serious Chef iz Serious!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 1:16 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:45 pm
Posts: 1531
Location: Ottawa, ON
There is also lemon basil, which has a relatively strong flavour. Its OK too, though I think lemon thyme is more useful.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 7:32 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
Posts: 5280
Location: Portland, OR
Lemon basil is good for SE Asian dishes.

_________________
The Fuzzy Chef
Serious Chef iz Serious!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sat Jun 21, 2014 10:48 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:58 pm
Posts: 1206
There are actually several varieties of lemon thyme out there, but most of what is seen - with the the variegated leaves - is more of a creeping type of thyme, not getting as large as the regular English or French thymes. There are some lemon thyme varieties that are larger, and look pretty much the same, and maybe this is why we usually see the variegated one - to keep them separated! However, I have heard that by the third season or so, they will revert to dark green leaves, so be sure to grow them far apart, so you'll know where the different ones are.

It is supposedly hardy to zone 5, but it died by the second winter in my garden - zone 6B - while regular thyme kept right on going. And speaking of bugs, Fuzzy, I recall on some gardening forum somebody mentioning that the lemon thyme was decimated by some bugs, while the regular thyme was untouched, right next to it.

I tried growing lemon basil, for the SE Asian dishes I am always making, but it was the fastest basil of any to bolt. I found another named variety a few years later, but it was the same. So if I want lemon flavor I'll just use lemon peel or lemongrass (which I always have in excess!).

_________________
Dave


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 12:19 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:05 pm
Posts: 1191
Location: Chico, CA
I love lemon thyme and usually grab it before the regular stuff. We have not had problems with bugs and it has come back as hardy as the regular thyme. Not sure of the difference between English and French thyme. I had both at one time, but they are so old now, the little markers are gone.

I've not seen lemon basil. I'd go for it too! Made my favorite pistachio basil pesto to go with some lemongrass poached halibut (sous vide) and had to add some lime in addition to the lemon. Lemon basil might have been handy. Our regular basil is beautiful now, as is our Thai and we have a purple one as well. Not sure what to do with that one.

_________________
Alina


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 5:03 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:56 am
Posts: 531
Location: Virginia
Thanks for the great tips! Will definitely keep it. For some reason our thyme never grows really well and that's why I asked DD to buy another one. We'll see how the two plants do and I'll try to be creative in the kitchen at least occasionally ;)

Emilie


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: lemon thyme?
PostPosted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 9:23 pm 
Offline
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:03 am
Posts: 5280
Location: Portland, OR
Alina,

While pretty, the flavor of purple basil is very subtle. I'd recommend keeping it for fresh preparations; when I used it for, say, pesto in the past, it was too bland. It also wilts faster than other varieties once picked.

_________________
The Fuzzy Chef
Serious Chef iz Serious!


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
Template made by DEVPPL/ThatBigForum