Sage is a type of herb that is widely known for its earthy flavor and very strong herbal aroma. The herb is widely known for its use in many savory recipes and also has its medicinal uses, and it is also used as an ornamental plant. This herb is classified as one of the largest in the mint family. Back in history, sage was used to preserve meat even before the invention of refrigerators. Currently, sage is used being used for its fragrant aroma and its astringent flavor in the following; sausages, vegetable dishes, fish, poultry, and stuffing, among others.
1. Meat marinade
A marinade is a seasoned liquid, and the process is referred to as marinating. Marinating is now the process of soaking meat, either fish, turkey, or poultry, among others, in a marinade. Sage is used to make meat marinade to add flavor to the soaked meat. Any marinade, in general, contains additives such as herbs, oils, and some spices. Sage, in this case, is preferred in marinades for its fragrance and warmth. In addition, sage adds its herbal flair to all its beef-made dishes.
2. Compound butter
Compound butter is basically butter that has additional ingredients such as sage, basil, and garlic, among others. Normally compound butter is used in foods such as pancakes, and waffles, and then in savory dishes. It is used on meat, fish, and vegetables.
3. Pastries
A pastry is a type of baked sweet food made of dough. Sage is used as an ingredient in making most pastry-related foods. For example, when making a sweet sage shortcrust pastry, one and a half tablespoons of sage leaves are used. Sage provides its herbaceous flavor to the pastry along with its fragrant aroma.
4. Bread
Sage offers its herbal fragrance to each bread made of it. As mentioned in most of the other uses, sage is used as a part of the ingredients for many others in this case that makes bread. Many breeds that have used sage as their herbal ingredient can use the remaining bread after use to make another thing. For example, many stuffing recipes can make good use of this leftover bread.
More to that is that the leftover bread with sage can also be used to prepare savory bread puddings. Sage can be used in very many different types of bread, just to mention a few; breadsticks, rye bread, sourdough bread, and wheat bread, among others.
5. Sauces
Just like other foods, sage is used to prepare; sauces are no different, for they also get the herbal flavor and texture from sage. There are different sauces that use sage as part of their ingredient examples include; creamy sage butter sauce, butter and sage ravioli, butter and sage source, and sage cream sauce, among others.
6. Sausage fillings
The aromatic property of sage is what people look for as they use sage for their sausage stuffing or fillings. In addition to sage, onions, garlic, celery, and sausage together make a very distinct flavor. Like in most foods, sage prepares one uses just one and a half pounds or a teaspoonful of sage.
7. Thanksgiving stuffing and turkey dishes
Sage works well with meat and in this case turkey as is used to add flavor to the roasted turkey. Sage leaves are most preferred here, and they are chopped or ground into small pieces and placed in some strategic places on the turkey. While preparing the turkey, one should consider using a quarter cup of fresh sage leaves for the recipe.
8. Poultry
Poultry includes; chicken, turkey, duck, and geese. Sage has been used as an ingredient that provides a flavor to any roasted chicken as well as turkey. Sage acts as a seasoning in stuffing, especially in sausages and others, and this makes it a very important ingredient during thanksgiving since most families prepare turkey.
9. Fish
The aromatic, earthy flavor of sage goes very well with fish. It is important to note that since sage is a herb, one should not overcook it, especially when one wants to do the seasoning with it when overheated sage can overpower the taste of the fish.
10. Vegetable dishes
Sage is mostly used in vegetable dishes that are roasted. It is used as an ingredient that is added to add its aromatic herbal flavor. Examples of vegetables used with sage include; garlic pecan, roasted roots vegetables, roasted sage broccoli, and many more. In addition, sage also adds texture to your vegetables on top of its aromatic flavor.
11. Garnish in salads
Despite being an herb, sage can be used as a salad because of its flavor and texture. The sage leaves are fried in oil until they are crispy roughly for one minute, and then the rest of the additives of the salad are prepared later mixed with sage, and served as a salad.
12. Cocktails
Sage is used in cocktails to provide its pungent flavor as well as its sharp aromatic smell. The distinctive earthy flavor of sage is used to prepare different cocktails; for example, sage can be used in sage beekeeper cocktails, smoked sage cocktails, and honey sage bourbon cocktails, among other different cocktails.
13. Tea
Sage is used to prepare tea; this is done by cooking its dried leaves or fresh leaves as well. Sage has a strong flavor, so to balance that, one can add some fresh lemon and any sweetener like honey. Sage tea can be prepared in only five minutes, and it’s ready to drink. Many prepare this tea for the health benefits of sage.
14. Egg dishes
Sage is used to prepare egg dishes by sprinkling it over the eggs together with onions, but low heat is used for cooking them to prevent the sage from producing a strong flavor that overpowers that of the eggs and onions. The preparation of these eggs with sage should only take around five minutes and then be served.
Sage herb has been sued for a long time in cooking as well as for its health benefits. For example, different people prefer it for specific dishes. The Germans prefer sage in their pork charcuterie and veal, the Chinese prefer sage in tea, the Middle East make their salads with sage, and lastly, Italians cook their meat and bean dishes using sage.
