There was no broth without lovage, an ancient spice from the celery family that gives the dish an amazing flavour. Its leaves are similar to celery, and for good reason: the celery family has been a popular herb in Hungarian cuisine since ancient times, and it is also used in soups, sauces and meat dishes.
Nowadays, it’s rarely used, but it’s worth trying, and not just for its fantastic flavour: lestyán is very healthy, because like most herbs, it’s also a medicinal herb.
It’s worth planting some in your herb garden, and it’s a good idea to have at least one packet of dried lovage in your spice box.
It’s also known as a vegetable for its special aroma, as it adds an unforgettable flavour to soups – if you add it to broth, it will give a really distinctive taste.
But lovage also looks good in green pea soup, and it has its place in goulash soup. You can use both the leaves and the stems for seasoning, and dried lesty leaves go very well with duck or roast chicken.
It’s also a great choice for salads and cheese, or you can use it to make a savoury herb sandwich cream.
Boosts the immune system
It is also worth consuming regularly because of its high B and C vitamin content, which improves the immune system. It also has a calming effect on the nervous system due to its high B vitamin content.
A true remedy
Its strong, intense fragrance is due to essential oils and coumarins. Thanks to the phthalides it contains, it relieves stomach and intestinal spasms, but it is also beneficial for bladder and urinary tract spasms. It aids digestion by stimulating the production of digestive juices thanks to its strong taste. It is also excellent for preventing flatulence and can be eaten to relieve loss of appetite. Thanks to its diuretic effect, it reduces the amount of uric acid in the body, which is effective against many joint diseases. It can also be consumed for urinary tract infections and prostate problems due to its detoxifying effects.
To make tea from the root, steep 1 tablespoon of dried root in boiling water for 10 minutes and strain.
So plant it in your garden
Two or three plants are enough for the average family. As it is a large plant, it is better to grow it in the garden rather than in a window box: it will grow and develop for several years. If you want to grow it from seed, it’s important to know that it takes a long time to germinate and needs a humid environment, so cover the pots of freshly sown seeds with foil or glass and place them in a warm place. Seedlings will emerge after four weeks; keep the soil moist before and after that. Once the true leaves have emerged, transplant the strongest seedlings – they may even go to their final location in the herb garden.
