How to Cook With Dried Lavender

Overview

Most people consider lavender to be an herb used in beauty products for its light floral scent. Not only is lavender enjoyable in these products, but it is also a delightful herb to cook with. Lavender is part of the mint family of herbs and is similar to thyme, rosemary and sage. Combine lavender with many different herbs in the kitchen for a delicious change of pace.

Step 1

Grind dried lavender with a food grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Grind the lavender pieces until they are a fine consistency with few large chunks.

Step 2

Experiment with lavender in a variety of cooking dishes. Substitute lavender for thyme, rosemary and sage in almost any recipe. Use lavender in cooking savory dishes, and add it to baked breads. Add lavender to soups, stews and sauces in the same way you would add any dried herb. Any recipes that include savory, fennel, rosemary, oregano, sage or thyme would be suitable for making with lavender also.

Step 3

Start by adding a very small amount in recipes, and decide whether you enjoy the taste. The flavor and strength of lavender increases as you dry it. Too much lavender in a recipe may make the food bitter.