What are Chives?
Chives are an herb widely grown across North America, Europe, and Asia. They come from an edible flowering plant. Chives are long and thin green stems, which are called scapes, connected at the bottom to the bulb where the roots grow. They are in a similar plant family to onions. Chives are soft, with a slightly crunchy texture. Chives usually come fresh, but are also found dried.
What Do Chives Taste Like?
Chives have a fresh, extremely mild onion taste. Because of this mild taste, they are not often used to flavor dishes.
How Do You Eat Chives?
Chives are usually eaten fresh, but mostly as a garnish on top of finished dishes. Chives are lined up and diced into small cylindrical pieces for usage. They are only used in savory dishes. Chives are a common topping to loaded baked potatoes, potato soup, or omelets. Cooked potatoes, whether they are roasted, baked, or fried, are often finished with chives scattered over the top of them before serving. Creamy butters, sour creams, and dips frequently use chives. Chives may also add crunch to pasta dishes, chicken, and salmon.
Where Can You Buy Chives?
Look for fresh chives in the produce section of the grocery store, where they are year-round. Dried chives are found in the spice aisle.
How Do You Store Chives?
Store fresh chives in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Dried chives should be stored in a sealed, airtight container in a cool, dry place. Both fresh and dried chives should not be exposed to excess moisture.
Fun Fact About Chives
Chive flowers are used in cooking and some kinds of vinegar.
Did You Know?
Chives keep insects out of flower or vegetable gardens because insects do not like them.
Recipes Using Chives
Chive Spice Mix
Use dried chives when making this spice mix. Combine dried chives, garlic powder, pepper, dried dill, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Transfer to an airtight container.
Parmesan Chive Butter
Make a delicious butter perfect for wram dinner rolls or a freshly baked potato. Mix softened butter, fresh chives, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl. Chill until ready to serve.
Creamy Chive Dip
Make a creamy dip for vegetables or crackers. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and fresh chives in a bowl. Top with fresh parsley before serving.
Lemon Chive Sauce
Make this sauce to accompany savory dishes. Use a zester to grate lemon zest. Heat butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, fresh chives, vegetable stock, and flour. Stir and cook until sauce thickens. Serve drizzled over cooked chicken.
Pesto
Add fresh chives to your pesto for an additional fresh taste. Using a food processor, blend together basil, chives, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, and grated parmesan. Serve as a dipping sauce or over pasta.
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