Petroselinum crispumItalian Parsley

Selected plant size: 3-inch pot

Petroselinum crispum Italian Parsley image
Petroselinum crispum Italian Parsley image

Petroselinum crispumItalian Parsley

Selected plant size: 3-inch pot

About this plant

Height
2 Feet (up to 4 feet if left to bloom)
Hardiness
Perennial in Zones 5-11
Flower Color
White
Characteristics
Biennial, Full Sun
Uses
Butterfly Culinary, Medicinal

Growing & using Italian Parsley

Italian Flat Leaf Parsley growing in a pot

Some plants produce better or just as well in pots as they do in the ground. Parsley is a good example. Like other annuals and biennials, Parsley lives fast. Any stress can cause a Parsley plant to decline in production, making it especially important to give Parsley a prime environment in which to grow. The Italian Parsley in the photo to the left was planted about mid-September in organic soil and fertilizer. By January, the Parsley plant was overflowing the pot. Parsley actually tastes a little sweeter in late fall as colder temperatures arrive.

Curled Parsley is a great garnish and just as nutritious, but most folks like to cook with Italian Parsley, sometimes called Flat Leaf Parsley. Parsley is rich in vitamins and definitely worth growing your own to get the freshest possible leaves to cook with and to juice.

Italian Flat Leaf Parsley leaves.

Plant new Italian Parsley seedlings every spring. Even though the Parsley will come back again the second year, it will make only a few leaves and lots of flower heads. While the flower heads are great at attracting beneficial insects, and for making Parsley seeds to use in cheese, the leaves are of poor quality.

Always use fresh Parsley instead of dried, if possible. Substitute three times as much fresh Parsley for dried. Persillade is a mix of finely chopped Parsley and garlic that is sauted. Add a little sauted lemon and orange zest (organic only, please) and you make the Milanese mixture Gremolada. Both of these should be added at the end of cooking. Both can be used for almost anything savory. And don’t throw away those Parsley stems. Tie them up in a bouquet garni and add them to your soups and stews.

Here are a few more ideas for cooking with Parsley.

Roast Leg of Lamb with Garlic, Lemon and Parsley Dressing

  • 3 1/2 - 4 lb leg of lamb
  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • 4-5 potatoes, peeled & sliced
  • 1 1/4 cups rich chicken stock
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • GARLIC, LEMON & PARSLEY DRESSING:
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 6 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 6 tbsp. fresh bread crumbs
  • 6 tbsp. softened butter
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt & freshly ground black pepper
  1. Have the butcher trim and tie a leg of lamb. Butter a shallow oven proof casserole or gratin dish just large enough to hold lamb comfortably. 2. Arrange potatoes in the bottom of the dish in overlapping rows. Salt and pepper them generously. 3. Place lamb on the potatoes and pour in chicken stock. Season generously with salt and pepper. 4. Roast lamb in a preheated 400 degree oven for 25 minutes per pound, or until lamb is pink and tender. If you prefer lamb well done, increase time to 30 minutes per pound. 5. To Make Dressing: Make a smooth paste of the garlic, parsley, bread crumbs, butter and lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. 6. One hour before lamb is done, remove it; allow to cool for 15 minutes, spread it with dressing and return it to the oven for the remaining hour.

Danish Meatballs with Parsley Sauce

  • 1 1/2 lbs. ground pork
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 onion
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tbsp. allspice
  • 4 tbsp. flour
  • 4 tbsp. real butter
  • PARSLEY SAUCE
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 6 tbsp. flour
  • Salt (to taste)
  • 1 1/2 to 2 c. milk (depends on consistency)

In a blender, mix the milk, onion and egg. Put your ground pork in a bowl and pour the mixture of milk, onion and egg into meat, and then stir it until blended. Add allspice, salt and flour; make the meatballs about 1 to 2 inches and fry until done. Serve with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. Melt butter in saucepan; add flour while stirring. Add milk, a little at a time, continually stirring until you reach a good sauce, thick or thin depending on your liking. Milk measurements can be increased or decreased. Add parsley and salt to taste. Serve on Danish Meatballs.

Herbed Fish Fillets

  • 1 lb fillets
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • Dash of garlic powder
  • 1/4 oz. drained chopped mushrooms
  • 1/8 tsp. ground thyme
  • 1/2 tsp. onion powder
  • Dash of black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
  • 1 tbsp. nonfat dry milk
  • 1 tbsp. water
  • 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
  • Fresh Parsley for Garnish

Sprinkle fish with salt and garlic powder. Mix remaining ingredients and spread over fish. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until fish flakes with fork. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Quail with Juniper Berry Sauce

  • 2 quail (clean with necks cut off)
  • 2 c. brown sugar
  • 2 Juniper berries, crushed
  • BROWN SAUCE
  • Chicken Bones
  • 1 c. chopped onion
  • 1 c. chopped carrots
  • 1 c. chopped celery
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tsp. thyme
  • 2 tsp. rosemary
  • 1/2 c. parsley leaves
  • 2 very ripe tomatoes, cubed
  • 2 c. dry red wine
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp. peppercorns

Simmer and strain brown sauce ingredients. Chill and remove any fat. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Truss the birds with strong thread. Cook brown sauce and Juniper berries in saucepan until sauce is reduced in half. Using tongs, sauté the birds in butter over moderately high heat in an ovenproof pan until they are lightly browned on all sides. Place the pan in the oven for 30 minutes and baste quail 2 or 3 times. Remove the birds to warm platter and put in a warm oven. Spoon off excess butter and deglaze the sauté pan with the reduced brown sauce, strain the sauce back into the pan and add fresh green seedless grapes. Pour the sauce over the birds and serve. Quail should be juicy.

Wild Mushroom Strudel

  • 8-12 sheets filo dough
  • 1 c. sliced portobello mushrooms
  • 1 c. sliced crimini mushrooms
  • 1 c. sliced shitake mushrooms
  • 2 lg. shallots, minced
  • 1 c. sherry
  • 1/2 c. brandy
  • 4 tbsp. chopped parsley
  • Tabasco, Worcestershire, and soy sauce
  • 3 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 c. cream
  • 9 tbsp. butter
  • 4 tbsp. flour

Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Cook briefly and add the cream. Simmer on low heat to make a very thick sauce. In another saucepan, melt 2 more tablespoons butter and sauté the shallots. Cook until light brown, and add the mushrooms. Stir well and cook 3 to 5 minutes. Add the sherry, brandy, and some dashes (3-6) of Tabasco, (1-3) Worcestershire, (3-6) soy sauces. Stir in 3 tablespoons chopped parsley and cook until reduced by half. Stir in the cream sauce and cool. Melt the remaining butter. Lay out a sheet of filo and brush it quickly with butter. Fold in half (from left to right) and butter again. Lay a 1 1/2 tablespoon bead of cream cheese on middle bottom of dough, then 3 times as much mushroom stuffing. Roll 1 turn, fold the ends (sides) in, and paint with butter. Roll up the rest of the way, and fold the corners in at the last turn. (1 down, 7 to 11 to go!) Repeat with remaining sheets. Place all the rolls on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes. Serve warm, with sour cream or any sauce. (Or combine 4 oz. brandy, 2 oz. port wine, and 2 tablespoons chopped shallots in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce by 2/3’s. Stir in 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time. Keep warm over low heat and serve over the strudel.) Makes 8-12 rolls.

Roast Chicken and Parsley

  • 1 (3 to 4 lb.) chicken
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 Juniper berries, crushed
  • 1/2 c. olive oil
  • 1/4 c. lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. ground thyme
  • 1 bunch parsley
  • 1 c. chopped celery
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 tsp. thyme
  • 2 tsp. rosemary
  • 1/2 c. parsley leaves

Wash and dry chicken. Salt and pepper it inside and out. Rub the bird well, inside and out, with dressing made of the oil, lemon juice and thyme. Stuff the bird loosely with the fresh parsley and bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven for about 1 1/4 hours. Serves 3 or 4.

Linguine and Chicken in Lemon Parsley Sauce

  • 8 oz. linguine
  • 1 tbsp. safflower oil
  • Zest of 1 lemon, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp. finely chopped ginger
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 c. chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 2 chicken breasts, skinned, boned & cut in cubes
  • 2 finely chopped shallots
  • 3 c. stemmed parsley

Simmer lemon zest in oil 3-4 minutes. Add ginger and sugar; cook 3 minutes more. Stir often. Pour in stock, bring to boil. Reduce total liquid to approximately 1/2 cup. Meanwhile cook linguine until it is al dente. In a skillet cook chicken and shallots in butter until lightly browned (3 minutes). Add lemon sauce mixture, then parsley and cook 3-4 minutes more. Put drained pasta in casserole. Toss sauce with pasta. Let stand 5 minutes to absorb flavors before serving

Salsa Verde for Crab or Shrimp

  • 1 c. chopped parsley
  • 1/4 c. chopped green onion
  • 2 tbsp. capers
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 2/3 c. mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard

Combine parsley, onion, capers and garlic in blender or food processor. Cover and process until finely chopped. Add remaining ingredients and blend well. Chill. Serve with hot or cold stone crab claws or boiled shrimp. Makes 1 1/4 cups sauce.

New Mexican Pizza

  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lg. green or red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 c. chopped parsley
  • 3 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 lg. tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2 to 1 tbsp. Jalapeno pepper, chopped
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • Salt, pepper to taste
  • 4 wheat tortillas
  • 2 c. shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese
  • Lettuce and tomatoes
  1. Brown beef with garlic and green pepper over medium high heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain and discard fat. 2. Add parsley, tomato paste, tomatoes, jalapeno pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cinnamon and salt and pepper to taste. 3. Place tortillas on a cookie sheet. Broil 6 inches from heat for 30 seconds on each side. 4. Top with 1/2 cup of meat mixture. Spread within 1/2 inch of the edges of the tortillas. Top with cheese and return to broiler. Broil until cheese is melted. 5. Top with fresh chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce.

This plant is often available in plug trays. These trays hold 128 of all the same plant. They are a great low cost way to fill a lot of space. Each cell is 3/4 of inch by an inch. Check here to see if Italian Parsley Plug Trays are available.