The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “tarragon” is lemonade. But it is also a useful plant that is common in cooking. Tarragon is especially popular in French and Oriental cuisine. Tarragon is also called tarragon. You can prepare tarragon grass for the winter in various ways.
When should you start preparing tarragon?
You can start harvesting the plant for the winter as early as June. The bushes grow quickly, and as soon as the weather becomes warm outside, they actively increase their leaf mass. You can cut stems for harvesting for the winter all summer until autumn. The most optimal time for harvesting raw materials is considered to be the period of plant budding.
In the first year after planting, it is recommended to cut the grass in August. In subsequent years, the period for collecting stems extends from April (in the southern regions) to October. It is best to cut greens in the morning on a dry, warm day. The stems are cut 15 cm from the rhizome.
How to choose tarragon for preparation?
How long they will be stored depends on the correct choice of raw materials for preparations for the winter. For preparations, succulent stems without signs of damage are used. There should be no yellow or dry leaves, as well as traces of insects. Preference should be given only to healthy stems.
Damaged leaves should be thrown away immediately. You also need to pay attention to the fact that insects often lay eggs on tarragon. Therefore, you need to carefully examine the raw materials before you begin preparing preparations for the winter.
Methods for preparing tarragon for the winter
There are many ways to store tarragon greens for the winter. Preserving food preparations for winter cooking is not difficult. The main thing is to choose which method is most suitable and for what purpose the tarragon herb is harvested.
Drying
One of the easiest ways to prepare tarragon for the winter is to dry it. This is easiest to do in home urban conditions. Drying tarragon for the winter looks like this:
- Cut off the tarragon stems and inspect them to ensure there are no insect eggs on the back of the leaves.
- Rinse the stems thoroughly under running water.
- Finely chop the leaves and spread them in a thin layer on newspaper.
- Dry away from sunlight in a cool and well-ventilated area.
- You need to collect the workpiece after the leaves are completely dry.
It is recommended to store the seasoning in a glass jar. With this method, it will be possible to preserve all the beneficial properties and aroma of the spice.
Freezing
Another way to preserve tarragon for the winter is to freeze it fresh. Many herbs are prepared this way for the winter. Preparing to freeze the spice does not take much time.
As in the previous method, cut tarragon stems are inspected and washed in cool water. Then the tarragon needs to be dried so that all the water evaporates. It will take no more than an hour. The main thing is not to forget about the spices, otherwise the leaves will become withered. After this, cut the tarragon and pack it into bags. Place in the freezer.
The spice should be stored for no more than a year. The sooner the workpiece is used, the better.
Syrup
An unusual way to prepare tarragon for winter is to make syrup from it. Making syrup is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. To prepare the syrup you will need:
- 300 g of fresh tarragon herb;
- 1 liter of cold water;
- 3 tbsp. l. granulated sugar;
- 1 small spoon of citric acid;
- lemon.
In order to prepare the syrup, you need to rinse the greens. Tear off the leaves from the stems, and the branches themselves need to be cut. Cut the lemon into slices. Place the workpiece in a saucepan and add water. Place in a water bath and cook the syrup for 1 hour over low heat. When an hour has passed, the syrup is filtered and the cake is squeezed out.
Add sugar and citric acid. Put the syrup back on the fire. Cook until the liquid begins to thicken. The finished syrup is poured into glass jars. If the syrup is being prepared for the winter, then it should be twisted and stored in the basement.
The finished syrup is used to make lemonades.It is enough to dilute a few tablespoons of syrup in mineral water. The result will be a delicious, refreshing drink that will not contain harmful substances. Unlike store-bought lemonades.
Jam
And another way to prepare tarragon for the winter is to make jam from it. Making tarragon jam is simple, but the process will take a long time. Fresh tarragon greens are washed and cut with scissors. You need to mash it with your hands or a masher so that the leaves release juice. Then the greens are poured with 1 liter of boiling water.
Cover the tarragon with a lid and leave for 8-12 hours in a warm place. The next day, pour 1 kg of sugar into the water and put the container with the future jam on the fire. It will take a long time to cook, at least two hours. If the jam does not thicken during cooking, there is no need to be upset. After a while, when it is ready, it will thicken on its own.
