12 Dishes Where Tarragon Makes All the Difference
Add the herb's bittersweet flavor to chicken, sea bass, and even cookies with these recipes.
Tarragon is known for its fragrance and bittersweet, pungent flavor, reminiscent of anise or licorice. One of the four fines herbes in French cuisine, the herb stars in Béarnaise sauce along with other sauces, spreads, salsa, seafood dishes, and pastas here. Whether you've grown your own or picked up fresh tarragon from the farmers market or grocery store, there dozens of delicious ways to make the most of the herb — here are some of our favorites.
Chicken with Tarragon and Morels
David McCann poaches this beautiful French-style chicken breast in a wildly flavorful and decadent tarragon cream sauce for special occasions.
Bucatini with Mushroom Ragù, Dandelion Greens, and Tarragon
Former F&W food editor Mary-Frances Heck garnishes this meatless mushroom pasta with tarragon leaves.
Spinach, Feta, and Tarragon Frittata
The combination of flavors here is pure genius. Tarragon is classic with both spinach and eggs, and a touch of sharp feta cheese accents the trio beautifully.
Smashed Cucumber Salad with Butter Beans and Tarragon
Tarragon's fragrance and delicate anise flavor give this cucumber salad a refreshing pop.
Steamed Sea Bass with Potatoes and Avocado-Tarragon Salsa
Former F&W food editor Kay Chun dresses up delicately steamed fish and potatoes with a quick and creamy mix of avocado, grapefruit juice, and fresh tarragon.
Tarragon Chicken with Spring Greens
This aromatic chicken cooked with tarragon and leafy greens makes a great one-skillet meal.
Apricot-Tarragon Cocktail Cookies
"I don't know where I got the idea to add tarragon to these apricot cookies," says Dorie Greenspan. "But when I tried it, I thought, That's the way it's supposed to be."
Steamed Mussels with Tarragon
One of the first recipes that star chef Tom Colicchio learned to cook (when he was 13) was a version of these steamed mussels, packed with tomatoes and fresh tarragon.
Tagliatelle with Mussels and Tarragon
This simple, striking black and white seafood pasta gets a double hit of anise flavor from Pernod and fresh tarragon.
Chicken in Tarragon-Mustard Cream Sauce
© Fredrika Stjärne
Former F&W food editor Grace Parisi harnesses the flavors from a classic French pan sauce (mustard, tarragon, white wine, and cream) for this quick chicken sauté.
Grilled Oysters with Spicy Tarragon Butter
Bobby Flay tops his oysters with a blend of butter, tarragon, and hot sauce, then returns them to the grill so the tarragon butter melts into little pools in the shells.
Eggplant and Goat Cheese "Sandwiches" with Tomato Tarragon Sauce
Golden eggplant slices sandwich tangy, melting cheese, all set off by a fast tomato sauce complemented with tarragon.
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