495 bay leaf recipes

Garlic broth made with two whole heads of garlic, saffron, curry powder, and sage. A pureed vegetarian soup with deep, aromatic flavor from simmered garlic and warm spices.

Bacon and bean soup simmers slivered bacon with kidney beans, carrots, celery and turnip in a thyme-scented beef broth. A hearty winter soup that tastes even better the next day.

Pork and cabbage soup with leftover cooked pork, bay leaf, celery, and green pepper. A simple, no-fuss pot that uses what you already have on hand.

Gingersnap pot roast slow-cooked with sweet potatoes and carrots in a tangy gingersnap-vinegar gravy. A German-inspired crockpot dinner where the cookies thicken and flavor the sauce.

Spicy vinegar marinade with red wine vinegar, juniper berries, cloves, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, and basil. A bold aromatic marinade for lamb, chicken, and barbecue.

Braised beef brisket slow-cooked with onions, carrots, garlic, and bay leaves until fork tender. Best made a day ahead for easy defatting and deeper flavor.

Wild game sauerbraten made with elk or deer marinated 48 hours in vinegar with cloves, bay leaves, and peppercorns, then braised and served with tangy gravy.

Plump shrimp simmered in beer with onion, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns, celery, and lemon, then chilled for a cold appetizer that's pure low-country flavor.

Simple homemade tomato sauce from fresh ripe tomatoes, garlic, bay leaf, olive oil, and a splash of vinegar to brighten the finish. Long-simmered Italian-style sauce with the deep flavor only patient cooking delivers.

Old-world pickled beef brisket or tongue brined for 19 days with garlic, bay leaves, and pickling spices. A traditional Jewish deli-style corned beef you can make at home from scratch.

Tender squid braised in red wine, vinegar, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, Cyprus style. A Mediterranean appetizer that's equally stunning served warm or at room temperature.

Classic Greek skewered lamb marinated in olive oil, wine, lemon, oregano, and garlic. Grilled to smoky char in just 15 minutes.

Braised pork chops with cumin, turmeric, and paprika in a simple onion-garlic pan sauce. Golden-seared and simmered low for tender, spice-rubbed flavor.

Braised red cabbage with apple, a German-style side simmered with onion, cloves, and bay, finished with sugar and vinegar for the classic sweet-sour balance. Vegan and low calorie.

Lou Pastis en Pott, the classic Languedoc potted meat: beef and pork slow-cooked in red wine with juniper, sealed under lard, and built up over weeks. Traditional French preservation cooking.

Making your own chicken stock may take some time, but when you taste one tablespoonful afterwards, you will feel it's well worth the effort.