Bouquet Garni

Here’s how to make a bouquet garni! This French technique makes a bundle of herbs to flavor soups, stews and more.

Want to add big flavor to savory recipes? Bouquet garni is a bundle of fresh or dried herbs used to add flavor to soups, stews, vegetables, meats and more. It’s a French technique that translates to “garnished bouquet.” The herbs are traditionally tied up in cheesecloth, making them easy to remove from the pot when the cooking is finished. Here’s how to make a bouquet garni: perfect for adding herby, complex flavor to soup recipes and more!

Herbs to use in a bouquet garni

There’s no standard definition of the herbs to use for a bouquet garni. Traditionally, the French technique includes at least bay leaf, thyme and parsley. More can be added, or you can use whatever fresh or dried herbs you have on hand. This technique infuses a complex, earthy flavor into the food without being a part of the dish itself. Here are a few of the top herbs to use in a bouquet garni:

• Bay leaf
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Tarragon
• Oregano
• Chervil
• Savory

How to make a bouquet garni

Making a bouquet garni is quick and simple. Fresh herbs generally bring the best flavor, but you can also use dried if it’s all you have. Wrapping the herbs in cheesecloth is helpful and makes them easy to remove from the pot after cooking. It’s not required for fresh herbs, but it’s a must for dried herbs to keep them all together. Here’s how to make a bouquet garni:

• Assemble the herbs. Use 1 bay leaf, 1 handful fresh thyme, and 1 handful fresh parsley, or the mix of herbs of your choice. Add more if desired! If using dried herbs, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of each herb.
• Tie the herbs in cheesecloth. Add the herbs to a square of cheesecloth (or other clean cloth) and tie the end using kitchen string.
• Add to soups, stews, braises, casseroles, vegetables, and more. Place the bouquet garni directly into the soup or food item while cooking. Once cooking is complete, remove and discard it.

Ways to use it

There are many ways to use a bouquet garni. Here are a few ideas for soups and stews that would benefit from the herby, complex flavor of this French technique:

• Potato Leek Soup
• Creamy Squash Soup
• Chickpea Soup with Rice
• Easy Kale Soup
• Sweet Potato Soup
• Simple Red Lentil Soup
• Cozy White Bean Soup
• Easy Vegetable Soup
• Creamy Vegan Potato Soup

More recipes with herbs

This technique is great when you have fresh herbs to spare in a garden or in pots outside! Here are a few more herb-related recipes to try:

• Make homemade 8 DIY Herbal Tea Recipes
• Try simple syrups for drinks, like Rosemary Simple Syrup, Mint Simple Syrup or Lavender Simple Syrup
• Learn How to Store Fresh Herbs
• Make fresh Herb Cream Cheese

Print