Love it or lavender! We often lump lavender with cleaning products, from scented house sprays to those handmade bars of soap you find at farmer’s markets. Many of us associate the plant with the feeling of ‘clean’; after all, the word ‘lavender’ comes from the Latin word lavare. But this little purple flower packs a lot of power, beyond your sense of smell. We’ve assembled a few new recipes involving lavender as an essential ingredient — we promise, none of them taste like soap!
Don’t forget the wine — I’ve sprinkled in a few wine pairings to liven up your lavender dishes.
Lavender Sea Bass with Caramelized Riesling Sauce
The Lavender Sea Bass with Caramelized Riesling Sauce is an exquisite seafood dish from our friends at the Pecan Grill at the Overton Conference Center and Hotel in Lubbock. They make this dish with a lavender rub from Thistle Dew Farms, a family-owned lavender farm in West Texas that was started by a retired firefighter.
You’ll love this dish with the Nik Weis Selection Urban Riesling, a fabulous find you can usually pick up for less than $10 a bottle at H-E-B.
Chicken with Herbes de Provence
Savor the flavors of the South of France with this recipe from H-E-B’s Cooking Connection. This Chicken with Herbes de Provence recipe is straightforward and great for a weeknight meal, but you can elevate it with an easy wine sauce recipe that I make from memory!
A dish that tastes like France deserves an equally stunning wine find — try the Mionetto Prestige Rosé Extra Dry Sparkling from H-E-B for just $15.
Lavender Pistachio Salmon with Strawberry Basil Spinach Salad
This Lavender Pistachio Salmon with Strawberry Basil Spinach Salad (pictured here using thyme — see recipe details to adjust herbs) from Executive Chef Sasithorn Taber at Dagar’s Catering in Austin involves making a dried lavender and pistachio crust. The addition of a fresh green salad with basil, strawberries, feta cheese and a basic balsamic vinaigrette makes this dish a complete meal without a lot of fuss on a weeknight.
We’re sipping this one with Becker Vineyards Saigné 2016, a wine find with a beautiful bottle and price — just $24 at H-E-B.
Fennel & Lavender Marinated Castelvetrano Olives
These Fennel & Lavender Marinated Castelvetrano Olives from our friends at Houston Dairy Maids give regular ol’ olives a luxurious little upgrade! You can prepare them in under 10 minutes. Let them marinate at least 12 hours.
The Lavender 75
Bring the ‘lavender love’ to your bar this weekend with a little lavender syrup. It’s used in this take on a French 75. Not sure where to find Lavender Syrup? You make your own easily: bring a cup of water and 3 tablespoons of fresh or dried lavender flowers to a boil. Stir two cups of sugar into the mixture until fully dissolved. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, then cool the mixture for about an hour before straining. Get the Lavender 75 recipe here.
Lavender & Rosemary Soap
We had to sneak at least one soap recipe in! This Lavender & Rosemary Soap is ‘the’ ultimate recipe for livening up your bathroom and makes a great gift. It’s an easy Sunday afternoon craft project to make with mom this Mother’s Day.
I think the recipe for lavender syrup isn’t correct. Maybe the 2 cups of lavender should be 2 cups of sugar?
You are correct, Marianne! Too much relaxing lavender! Thank you for the correction — enjoy the cocktail!