Hardly any other herb evokes such clear associations. Anyone who smells lovage immediately thinks of soup - at least most people do. But are there other possible uses and which parts of the plant can be used?
What can lovage be used for?
The use of lovage mainly includes seasoning soups, salads, meat dishes, egg dishes, mushroom dishes, fish, sauces and baked goods. In natural medicine, lovage has an appetite-stimulating, diuretic, relaxing and digestive effect.
Many plant parts are used
The leaves of the lovage are mainly used. It is also possible to process the seeds, stems and roots in the kitchen. The leaves are best used either fresh or frozen. When dried, they lose a lot of their aroma. The seeds, dried and crushed, are ideal for seasoning.
Maggikraut – no soup without lovage
Soup without lovage? Hard to imagine If you were to make a vegetable soup without lovage, you would probably notice that the soup lacks flavor. Lovage is the typical spice for all kinds of vegetable soups.
But be careful: when seasoning with lovage, thrift should be the top priority. The flavoring power of lovage is enormous. It's best to only use one leaf per liter of soup. Alternatively, you can use the seeds or a small piece of the root.
Other dishes with lovage
In addition to a home-style soup, lovage can enrich other dishes. The following dishes harmonize perfectly with it:
- Veal and poultry (especially roasts)
- Salads
- Egg dishes
- Mushroom dishes
- Fish like trout
- Sauces
- Quark
- Bread and other baked goods (with the seeds)
An almost forgotten medicinal herb
Did you know?: Lovage can be used to relieve various ailments. Among other things, it has an appetite-stimulating, diuretic, relaxing and digestive effect. For example, lovage can be used with and against:
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Muscle pain
- Cramps
- Heartburn
- Urinary tract infections
- Skin diseases such as abscesses
For ailments, lovage can be made into tea, for example. To do this, pour a teaspoon of dried leaves into a cup of hot water. The root can also be used for tea. You can also add lovage to a bath or season dishes.
Tips & Tricks
To get the best aroma, you should harvest the lovage at the right time. The harvest time depends on the respective part of the plant (shoots, leaves, seeds, roots).
