Why You Should Garnish with Parsley

My grandmother didn’t teach me a lot about herbs but she frequently garnished our dinner with parsley and whenever we ate at a restaurant she made us eat the parsley garnish.

She said that it was the healthiest thing on the plate.

Since most lunches at her house consisted of Velveeta cheese and white bread sandwiches, she was right.

Benefits of Parsley

Parsley is an excellent nutritional supplement. It is packed with nutrients that are easy to absorb.

Parsley is a rich source of Vitamin C, E and A. It is also high in calcium, potassium, iron and magnesium.

Like many culinary herbs, parsley is carminative, which means that it increases the amount of oxygen and blood to the digestive tract. It helps your body digest what you eat. Digestive aids are one of the most valuable medicines from the plant world.

The vitamin and mineral content of parsley is higher if it isn’t cooked. So the best way to use parsley is to add it to foods just before eating.

How to Garnish with Parsley

Add ½ cup finely chopped parsley to soups, casseroles, potatoes or just about any grain dish. Parsley is a great herb to garnish with because it is compatible with other herbs and goes well on just about any lunch or dinner food.

Because it is such a great multivitamin I try to sneak it in wherever possible. Chopped parsley mixes into the lettuce in salads, sandwiches, smoothies and tacos. It adds a good finishing touch to omelets, quiche and scrambled eggs. We love lots of parsley in tuna fish and chicken salads.

Minced parsley tops are delicious on roasted and steamed vegetables and goes into most marinades and sauces.

Parsley is one of those foods that really doesn’t need a recipe. Just look at what you are eating for lunch and dinner and add a handful of minced parsley. Even the take-out pizza your brought home would liven up with a little parsley garnish.

Don’t underestimate the health benefits of the simple parsley garnish.