Tarragon Vinegar Recipe and 5 Other Uses for Tarragon

This tarragon vinegar recipe was an easy way for me to use up a whole bunch of fresh tarragon that I grew in the backyard.  If you have never tried growing it, I highly encourage you to give it a shot.  In our area of the country, tarragon is a perennial, meaning I will have more fresh tarragon than I could ever possibly use without planting it again next year.  Plant once, use over and over again!

My Experience Growing Tarragon

Several years ago,  I was strolling through the garden center and I stumbled across a tarragon plant in the herb section. This is not an herb I have ever used a lot of and I had no idea what uses for tarragon I might come across but I bought a plant for the backyard herb garden.

Little did I know that tarragon would THRIVE in my backyard! I never researched how to grow tarragon…I just stuck it in the dirt and lucked out. And wouldn’t you know it but tarragon is a perennial here in the south. It gets bigger every year! I have given some to neighbors and dried some in the dehydrator.

I decided to make this easy tarragon vinegar recipe and thought I would share it with you. Of course,   I still have more tarragon than I need so I started researching other uses for tarragon as well. I will include those below in case you have as much tarragon in the garden as I do!

What is Tarragon?

Tarragon is a flowering perennial plant in the daisy and sunflower family. It has narrow aromatic leaves that are used primarily as a culinary herb. In my own garden, the tarragon that I planted about 4 years ago is still coming back every year.

I honestly have so much tarragon I don’t even know what to do with it all! It is incredibly easy to grow so I thought I would share a few tips on how to grow tarragon so you can try a few new recipes.

How to Grow Tarragon in the Garden

Okay, so you want to grow tarragon but aren’t sure how to get started. You can either start with tarragon seeds or check out your local nursery for a tarragon plant. I started from an actual plant and had no issues at all. Here are a few tips for growing tarragon at home:

Growing Tarragon From Seeds: 

Start them indoors around April or before your area’s last expected frost date. Sow about four to six seeds per small pot. Make sure you use only moist, composted potting soil. Cover the seeds lightly and keep them in indirect sunlight at room temperature.

Once they are about an inch tall, you can thin the plants and leave only the strongest and healthiest tarragon plants in the pot. Transplant them into the garden once they are about 4 to 6 inches tall or leave them in the pot for an indoor kitchen garden.

Growing Tarragon Plants:

Tarragon herb plants should be grown in full sun. Space them approximately 18 inches apart in well-drained, fertile soil. They will, however, grow fairly well in poor soil and can handle drought better than over watering. Add a bit of mulch in the fall for added nutrients and they should regrow in the spring with no issues.

Check out my post on how to prepare your garden for winter to learn more about keeping your garden healthy during the colder months.

Make sure you trim the plants regularly to keep them healthy and strong. A nice pair of herb trimmers or small pruning shears are an essential gardening tool in my yard! Check out the video below to learn how to grow tarragon.

Uses for Tarragon

Once you have just ONE tarragon plant, you are going to have more of the stuff than you know what to do with. Tarragon has an assortment of culinary and medicinal uses. In terms of medicinal uses, tarragon is used to treat digestion problems, poor appetite, water retention, toothaches, and insomnia.

It can also be used as a fragrance in an assortment of beauty products. It has lots of potassium in it and seems to show some antibacterial properties. So, now that you have a huge amount of tarragon growing in the garden, how do you use it? Here are a few ideas:

1. Relieve a toothache by chewing on tarragon leaves. They have a mild numbing effect which may take away some of the pain.
2. Drink tarragon tea before bed to help promote sleep. It is also good for relieving anxiety. Tarragon tea for weight loss is also a very popular health benefit you might enjoy. You can buy tarragon capsules if you prefer.
3. Make a vinaigrette with fresh tarragon. Minced tarragon leaves added to olive oil and lemon juice make a delicious and light salad dressing recipe or marinade.
4. Make tarragon oil. Great to rub on fish before you put it on the grill. My tarragon vinegar recipe below is great on salads.
5. Use it in a cocktail. Add sprigs of tarragon to homemade lemonade. Drink as is or add a shot of vodka for a lemon/tarragon cocktail.

There are tons of health benefits of tarragon. Check out The Free Range Life for more of them.

 

Tips For Making Homemade Vinegar

This tarragon vinegar recipe is incredibly easy to make. Try not to spray your tarragon plant with any pesticides and use only organic fertilizers. Whenever you use a fresh herb to make oils and vinegar, you should store them in a glass bottle. Plastic really isn’t good for the long-term storage of this type of product.

What other uses for tarragon have you found? I’d love to know!  Leave me a comment and give me some ideas… I have so much left out in the yard!

Uses for Tarragon Vinegar

People are always looking for new, interesting ways to use vinegar in their cooking.
Vinegar is a versatile ingredient that can be used in so many different recipes. It’s a great way to add flavor and depth to dishes without adding extra calories or unhealthy ingredients.
Tarragon vinegar is one of our favorite vinegars to use because it has a unique, slightly sweet taste that really enhances the flavors of food. In this post, we’ll share some of our favorite ways to use tarragon vinegar in your cooking.

• Tarragon vinegar is great for making salad dressings. Just mix it with some olive oil, salt, and pepper to make a simple, tasty dressing for your salads.
• Add a little tarragon vinegar to your next batch of homemade soup or stew for extra flavor.
• Make a quick glaze for grilled meats or vegetables by mixing tarragon vinegar with some honey and Dijon mustard.
• Add a splash of tarragon vinegar to your next batch of homemade potato salad or coleslaw for a little extra flavor.
• Make a simple marinade for chicken, fish, or tofu by mixing tarragon vinegar with olive oil, garlic, and herbs.
• Need a quick, tasty dipping sauce? Just mix tarragon vinegar with some mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and a little salt and pepper.
• Do you have a favorite way to use tarragon vinegar? Share it with us in the comments below!

 Tarragon Vinegar Recipe

Yield: 2 cups

Tarragon Vinegar Recipe

Print

This tarragon vinegar recipe is quick and easy and makes a delicious addition to homemade salad dressing!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 14 days

Total Time 14 days 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh tarragon leaves plus a few extra sprigs for decorating your final bottle
• 2 cups white wine vinegar

Instructions

1. Wash the tarragon leaves and pat dry.
2. Place the fresh tarragon leaves in a large mason jar and bruise them gently with the handle of a wooden spoon
3. Pour the vinegar over the leaves and screw on the lid. make sure you have at least an inch or so of space at the top of the jar
4. Let sit in a cool, dry location for 2 weeks
5. Pour the vinegar into a decorative glass jar and add an additional sprig or two of tarragon to the jar for decoration.
6. Store in a cool dark place for up to 6 months.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

48

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 5Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Nutrition information not always accurate