Chervil Substitute

Chervil is one of the most popular herbs used to flavor French food. It is known to taste slightly like parsley and slightly like anise. Chervil belongs to the family of carrots, and in appearance its leaves look like those on carrot tops. Chervil leaves are often stored in vinegar, so as to preserve their flavors. Chervil does not have a particularly identifiable or strong flavor. However, it is the subtlety of its flavors that makes it so popular among a variety of preparations. Many who have tasted this wonderful herb find that it generates a certain kind of warmth when eaten; another reason why it is so popular. When you are trying your hand at some exotic recipes that call for the use of chervil, and you don't have any at hand, you can use a good chervil substitute that may not give you the exact flavor, but will certainly try and match up to the rich flavors that is provided by chervil leaves. However, before we look at some of the substitutes, you should know where and how chervil is actually used.

Uses of Chervil Herb

Chervil is often used to enhance the flavors of a variety of other herbs that are added to different food preparations. It is most often used along with other French herbs such as tarragon, chives and parsley. Take a look at the uses of chervil in different food recipes.

• Chervil is a common seasoning ingredient in different sauces and dressings. It is also used to add flavor to eggs, chicken and fish.
• The prominent taste of Bernaise sauce is because of the presence of chervil in it.
• Chervil is a herb of the spring season, and therefore, adds a distinctive flavor to other foods of this season including trout, potatoes, green beans, spring beans, and carrots.
• An interesting fact about chervil is, when dried, it loses all its flavor. It also loses its flavor due to prolonged cooking. The best way then, is to use fresh chervil leaves right at the end of the cooking procedure as a garnish.
• Because chervil leaves lose their flavors so easily, they are often preserved in white vinegar, that adds to the exotic flavors of chervil. This preparation makes for a perfect low calorie salad dressing!
• The consumption of chervil also provides a variety of health benefits, such as the absorption of vitamin C, a nutrient essential for a healthy immune system. It even aids the digestion process.

Chervil Herb Substitute

A substitute for chervil may be either fresh or dried. Dried chervil usually loses its flavor and contributes little to a dish. That is why experts suggest that when using chervil, it ought to be used fresh. However, sometimes dried chervil is required in a recipe and the substitutes for both fresh and dried chervil have been mentioned here. As mentioned earlier, these substitutes may not match up to the unique flavors that chervil lends to the final product, but will definitely add a good flavor to the food.

Fresh Chervil Substitute
For a good, fresh substitute, you may opt for any of the following herbs instead of 1 tablespoon of fresh, chopped chervil leaves:

• Fresh Parsley Leaves, 1 tbsp, chopped
• Fresh 'Fines Herbes', 1 tbsp (equal portions of parsley, tarragon, chervil, and chives)
• Fresh Fennel Leaves, 1 tbsp, chopped
• Fresh Tarragon, 1 tbsp, chopped

Dried Chervil Substitute
Do remember that dried chervil has little or no flavor. However, in spite of this, some recipes may call for the use of dried chervil. Substitute 1 teaspoon of dried chervil with any of the following:

• Dried Parsley, 1 tsp
• Dried 'Fines Herbes', 1 tsp
• Dried Parsley (1 tsp) + Dried, Rubbed Sage (1/8 tsp)

In some cases, the dried counterparts may be used as fresh chervil leaves substitutes. To do so, substitute 1 tbsp of the fresh chervil leaves, with 1 tsp of the dried substitute.

Chervil can be used as a garnish for scrambled eggs, or for your favorite grilled chicken or fish. If you wish to avoid using a chervil substitute, the ideal way is to grow the herb at home. It is one of the best herbs to grow indoors, and is at its peak during spring. To use it fresh, just wrap it in damp paper towels and refrigerate. It will last only for about two-three days.