Which herbs go well with pork?
- Helen Salter
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Looking for new ways to cook pork? Discover which herbs pair best with pork, including fennel, thyme and rosemary
Wondering which herbs go well with pork? Pork has a rich, savoury, slightly sweet taste and meatier flavour than poultry, meaning it pairs well with most herbs, which help balance its fattiness. It's tender and juicy if cooked correctly and absorbs herbs and marinades quickly.
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Pork can be enjoyed as an impressive Christmas centrepiece as well as a midweek meal in dishes such as casseroles, meatballs and burgers. It's available all year round, so it's one of the most versatile types of meat; plus, it's economical.
Pork's flavour and texture profile lends well to certain herb pairings, such as parsley, thyme and sage.
These herbs can be added to the pork in different ways, for example in rubs, marinade, sauces, compound butters or garnishes.
Looking for more ways to cook with pork? See our pork recipes, pulled pork recipes and leftover pork recipes for inspiration.
We also share how to cook pork chops and pork shoulder, and how to achieve the perfect pulled pork.
Which herbs are best for pairing with pork?
Classically, pork pairs well with:
- Parsley: use as a garnish or in a sauce or marinade for a bright, slightly peppery flavour that will balance the richness of the pork.
- Thyme: thyme brings an earthy, savoury flavour that complements pork, alongside slightly floral and aromatic notes.
- Sage: a classic flavour combination, the aromatic and peppery notes of sage pair well with pork's rich flavour.
- Bay leaves: a good match for pork due to its herbal, warm and slightly floral notes.
- Rosemary: the strong, slightly piney taste of rosemary complements the pork's savoury flavour.
- Tarragon: often used as part of a velvety sauce or stuffing, tarragon's anise-like, herbaceous notes work brilliantly with pork.
- Marjoram: marjoram is commonly used in a variety of pork dishes thanks to its delicate, sweet flavour and notes of pine.
- Fennel: a traditional pairing typically seen in Italian dishes, fennel provides sweet floral notes, which complement pork.
- Oregano: oregano's strong, earthy notes pair well with pork. It's commonly used as part of marinades, and it's also popular in Greek dishes.
- Dill: used as a garnish or mixed into creamy sauces, dill brings a refreshing edge to pork dishes.
What other flavours pair well with pork?
- Pork benefits from being balanced with a sweet element. Fruits like apples, plums, apricots and pineapple all cut through the richness of pork.
- Sweet vegetables, such as sweet peppers, sweet potatoes and carrots also counteract rich pork with their gentle sweetness.
- Garlic is a common flavour pairing that provides depth of flavour and richness.
- Thai basil, an anise-like herb, is commonly used in Thai pork dishes such as stir-fries.
- Honey is used in glazes, marinades and sauces to create a deliciously sweet and savoury flavour combination.
Which herbs go with roast pork?
- Sage adds an aromatic and peppery edge to roast pork, as in our roast pork with sage & double onion stuffing.
- Chopped parsley and thyme bring fresh, bright and earthy notes that balance the richness of the pork in our herb roast pork with vegetables, roasties & apple gravy.
- Rosemary, bay leaves and a sliver of garlic are poked into incisions in the pork before roasting our roast pork with crackling.
Which herbs go with pork chops or pork loin chops?
- Coriander seeds, bay leaves and thyme sprigs are used as part of the brine in our herb-brined pork chops recipe.
- Pork chops are fried with rosemary sprigs, then later scattered with parsley in our pork chops with rhubarb & grains.
- Dried oregano is combined with paprika, mustard powder, onion powder and parmesan before being sprinkled over pork chops in our easy air fryer pork chop recipe.
See our pork chop recipe collection for more ideas.
Which herbs go with pork casserole?
- A bundle of woody herbs – bay leaves, sage leaves and thyme sprigs – are used in our comforting slow cooker pork casserole.
- Oregano, ground cumin and ground coriander elevate pork shoulder in our Brazilian pork stew with corn dumplings.
- Fennel seeds, bay leaves and thyme provide a herbal, earthy flavour boost to our Spanish-influenced stew with slow-cooked belly pork.
If you like the sound of these, see more of our casserole and slow cooker ideas.
Which herbs go with pulled pork?
- Pork is submerged in a mixture of cumin, spices, sugar and vinegar in our pressure-cooked pulled pork recipe.
- Pulled pork is cooked with thyme, a cinnamon stick and orange zest and juice in this pulled pork with Mexican almond mole sauce.
- Oregano, allspice, cumin and nutmeg are used as a spicy Mexican-style pulled pork filling in tacos.
See our collection of pulled pork recipes for more meal inspiration.
See more of our herb pairing guides:
- Which herbs go well with lamb?
Discover more food and drink pairing ideas:
- The best wines to pair with pork
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Find more ways to cook with pork:
- Cheap cuts: How to get the most from meat
- Cheap cuts: How to buy pork
- Pork mince recipes
- Barbecue pork recipes
- Pork curry recipes
- How to cook sausages
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