Easy Ways to Up Your Garnish Game

Fresh edible garnishes to elevate your next recipe or cocktail!

Jul 26, 2024

Fresh garnish is a lifesaver in the kitchen

“We eat first with our eyes”….

In the world of cooking, the presentation and the visual impact of a dish is almost as important as the taste! You can serve up the most extraordinary tasting curry or fresh pasta dish, but if it isn’t visually appealing, you’re missing an opportunity to dazzle your dinner guests. The details of garnishing are much more involved than just wiping down plates to get rid of errant splatters, or artfully arranging sliced chicken onto a pan sauce, no matter how delicious. One of my secrets to elevating even the most humble dish is to add a fresh edible garnish. If done right, it brings vibrant life to your plate!

My Favorite Types of Edible Garnishes

The world of plate finishing is pretty big. Some people make fancy dessert tuiles, some practice the wizardly art of molecular gastronomy (balsamic “pearls”? Wizardry, I tell you!). We all have our favorite ways of providing that extra bit of flair to a finished recipe.

In my mind, garnishes should always be (at minimum) food-safe, if not downright edible. I’ve seen internet cocktails topped with babies’ breath, and fancy cakes decorated with hydrangeas. Pretty, but also pretty toxic. Stay away from those. Because I typically have limited time and mental energy when it comes to garnishing my non-special occasional meals at home, I go with what is tasty, fresh, and most importantly, easy.

Share Jessie-Sierra; The Last Bite

My Go-To Garnishes

Fresh Edible Flowers

You’ve probably noticed by now that I am a huuuuuuge fan of flowers. Bright and colorful, they really add such a beautiful finishing touch to everything from desserts to cocktails. Be sure to choose varieties that are edible (preferably) or at minimum, food-safe. Flowers can also add a punchy flavor to your dish as well, depending on the variety.

Great safe edible flower options include;

violets
pansies
marigolds
borage
lavender
squash blossoms
nasturtium (flowers + leaves!)

Make sure you purchase your flowers from an organic and pesticide-free vendor or flower farmer, or even better, grow your own! Never use store-bought flowers from the florist or grocery floral departments, as they are often treated with toxic chemicals to preserve the blooms. Grocery stores have started stocking fresh edible flowers that are certified safe to eat, and can be typically found near the fresh herb sections.

Fresh flowers bring this flourless chocolate espresso cake to life.

Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs can add a stunning touch to finish a plate, both visually and from a flavor perspective. A sprinkle of chopped parsley may have been the standard back in the day, but we now use a variety of herbs and herb flowers to accentuate the beauty of our meals. Hand torn basil leaves are gorgeously fragrant on a plate of mushroom ravioli, and bright green lemon thyme punches up the flavor on a melon and burrata platter.

Some of my favorites;

Italian basil
Thai basil
chives
oregano
lemon thyme
dill

Both chives and chive flowers make an incredible edible garnish

Fresh Fruits

Fresh fruits are great as cocktail garnishes, dessert accents, and used as bright pops of color on a charcuteries platter. I like to make sure the variety of fruit I choose compliments the main dish, as well as adds an attractive detail to the plate. I love to scatter fresh raspberries and blackberries on top of whipped cream desserts and cranberries are lovely when floating in a holiday Aperol spritz!

Some of my favorites;