Bouquet garni

Bouquet garni

“Bouquet garni” is the French word for a collection of herbs used in cooking which are either bound together with twine or placed inside a bound cheesecloth or muslin pouch and utilized for seasoning soups and sauces. The bouquet is placed in the pot or pan during cooking then removed prior to serving. It’s purpose is to provide the flavor from the herbs without actually putting the herbs or spices into the soup or sauce. The word is generically used to include any number of herbs or spices, but the French bouquet garni would typically include, at a minimum, sprigs of thyme, parsley and laurel leaves. For expediency, the herbs and spices can be frozen into cubes, placed inside a bound pouch, then stored in the freezer for months.