Rosemary Infused Honey

There are two methods for flavoring the honey. One takes longer, but it preserves the healthy microbes in the honey that can be destroyed by heat; the other is a quick method that can be made for immediate use. Both methods work very nicely, and the resulting honey makes excellent gifts.

Rosemary Infused Honey

There are two methods for flavoring the honey. One takes longer, but it preserves the healthy microbes in the honey that can be destroyed by heat; the other is a quick method that can be made for immediate use. Both methods work very nicely, and the resulting honey makes excellent gifts. Please note that the quick-method honey should be stored in the refrigerator.

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Yield: 2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
  • 2 cups clover or other mildly flavored honey
  • 2 fresh rosemary sprigs

Instructions

Quick method

  • Place rosemary leaves in a small, heavy saucepan, and press with back of a spoon to bruise leaves. Add honey; heat over very low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is hot and fragrant.
  • Strain honey through a wire-mesh sieve into a small bowl and discard leaves. Cool to room temperature and transfer to an airtight container. Add a sprig of rosemary to container, if desired. Store at room temperature up to 24 hours or refrigerate.

No-heat method

  • Place chopped rosemary in a clean pint jar. Add honey to fill jar to within 1 inch of rim of jar. Screw on cap to seal. Turn jar several times to evenly distribute chopped rosemary throughout honey.
  • Place jar in a sunny windowsill for one to two weeks, turning jar every couple of days. (It takes time for honey to reach maximum flavor intensity.)
  • After one week, taste honey. If flavor is strong enough, strain honey through a wire-mesh sieve into two half-pint jars and discard leaves. Add one small sprig of fresh rosemary to each jar, then screw on caps to seal jars. If a stronger flavor is desired, add more chopped fresh rosemary and allow honey sit for another week before straining again.
Rosemary Infused Honey Recipe
Rosemary Infused Honey!

Featured Ingredient: Rosemary

Rosemary is a highly aromatic herb with great ornamental and culinary value for your garden. The leaves are easily removed from the woody stem and added to flavor a great variety of dishes, from stews and soups to dressings and baked goods, or even mixed with butter and melted over a steak. Unlike with most herbs, rosemary's flavor is stronger fresh than dried, so it's worth having a fresh source on hand. The plants are also very easy to grow, either directly in the ground or in a small pot. With so many uses, it's definitely worth learning how to grow your own rosemary!

How to Cook with Herbs: harvesting rosemary
For peak flavor, harvest fresh herbs, such as rosemary, right before using them.