Nepitella
네피텔라
ⓒ
Photo: Johann Georg Sturm (Painter: Jacob Sturm) · Public domain · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)
In Tuscany, Italy, this herb is said to be a must when sautéing mushrooms. It tastes like mint, oregano and basil combined in one leaf. It grows wild in Italian fields.
Flavor and aroma
- It smells like a mix of mint, oregano and basil, with a hint of licorice.
- It's less sweet than mint, with an earthy, savory herbal taste.
Fun facts
- It grows wild in central and southern Italy.
- It's hard to find, so many recipes are said to have switched to mixing oregano and mint instead.
- Many cooks say this herb is a must in mushroom dishes.
In the kitchen
Cooking
- Add it to rich meats such as pork, lamb and beef, to tomato and potato dishes, and to Tuscan bread soup.
Mushrooms
- Add it to Tuscan sautéed mushrooms (funghi trifolati), mushroom soup and mushroom pasta (pappardelle).
Artichokes
- Add it to Roman and Sicilian braised artichokes.
Pasta
- In Sicily it's used to season pasta.
Goes well with
MushroomsArtichokeGarlicOlive oilLemonLambPorkTomato
Tips
- For sautéed mushrooms, add it after turning off the heat to keep the aroma.
Season
We're still checking the season. We'll add it once we find a source.
Details
- Korean name
- 네피텔라
- English names
- nepitella, lesser calamint
- Scientific name
- Clinopodium nepeta
- Former scientific names
- Calamintha nepeta
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Clinopodium
- Other names and notes
- Italian: nepitella, mentuccia
Name mix-ups
It's easily confused with a catmint with a similar name, nepetella (Nepeta nepetella, English name lesser cat-mint). The nepitella used in Italian cooking is Clinopodium nepeta. Also, in Rome nepitella is called mentuccia, but elsewhere in Italy mentuccia often means pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). Check the scientific name when you buy it.
Show sources for this page
References for this herb
- Wikipedia(Clinopodium nepeta, World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 인용)
- St. Louis Herb Society
- The Oxford Companion to Italian Food(Gillian Riley)
- Specialty Produce
- Truelove Seeds
- La Société des Plantes
Name and classification
Photo
Johann Georg Sturm (Painter: Jacob Sturm) · Public domain · Original file (Wikimedia Commons)