Strategy: Plus Veggies

Tactic: Usher In the Shy Sisters

Middle Eastern and North African cooks sometimes speak of the "seven sisters," a harmonious group of fresh (not dried) herbs used together in many dishes. There are actually twelve (or more) of these herbs, but seven is a lucky number, so the cook chooses seven from the list:

basil

celery leaves

cilantro

dill

fennel fronds

marjoram

mint

oregano

parsley

tarragon

thyme

Most of the sisters are pretty assertive when raw, as for instance in taboulleh, but several become retiring when cooked -- cilantro and parsley in particular. Their shyness when cooked makes them prime exponents of the Plus Veggies strategy.