Any chef will tell you: food tastes better when properly seasoned. And when it comes to enjoying a healthy diet, herbs and spices can turn bland foods into flavorful masterpieces. For example, using dried herbs is a great way to cut down on salt. The trick to releasing their flavor is to rehydrate them, which means adding them at the beginning or about 20 minutes before you’re done cooking your dish. You can substitute fresh for dried and vice versa in most recipes. When using fresh herbs, be sure to wait to add any delicate herbs—like parsley, cilantro, tarragon, chives, and basil—until the last minute so they won’t lose their flavor and color. A good rule to know is that, generally, 1 tsp dried herbs equals 1 tbsp fresh.
