Fresh herbs for everyday cooking

Fresh herbs can provide fragrance and flavour across a wide variety of dishes. They can be used whole, chopped, infused into liquids, added to marinades or used as a finishing ingredient.

Nicol Retailer’s fresh produce range currently includes ingredients such as fresh rosemary, bunched thyme and fresh curry leaves. These products sit within the wider Fresh Fruit & Vegetables range.

Fresh rosemary

Rosemary works particularly well with roasted vegetables, potatoes, meat dishes, breads, marinades and Mediterranean-style cooking.

Fresh thyme

Thyme can be used in soups, casseroles, sauces, roasting dishes, stocks and slow-cooked recipes. Nicol Retailer currently lists bunched fresh thyme within its fresh produce range.

Choosing fresh chillies for your recipes

Different chilli varieties can provide very different levels of heat, flavour and aroma. Choosing the right chilli allows you to adjust a dish without relying only on dried spices or sauces.

Nicol Retailer’s live Chillies & Ingredients category currently includes fresh red chillies, jalapeños, Scotch Bonnet chillies, Bird’s Eye chillies and Padron peppers, alongside ginger and garlic.

• Fresh red chillies for versatile everyday heat.
• Jalapeños for salsas, toppings, sauces and Mexican-style dishes.
• Bird’s Eye chillies for dishes requiring stronger heat.
• Scotch Bonnet chillies for Caribbean and other intensely flavoured recipes.
• Padron peppers for frying, tapas-style dishes and side plates.

Shop Fresh Chillies & Ingredients

Understanding chilli heat

Fresh chillies vary significantly in heat. The variety, maturity and individual pepper can all influence how intense a chilli tastes.

For example, Nicol Retailer describes its standard fresh red chillies as medium to hot, while Bird’s Eye and Scotch Bonnet chillies are positioned as considerably hotter varieties. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

If you are uncertain about the strength of a particular chilli, start with a smaller amount and adjust the dish gradually.

Fresh curry leaves for aromatic cooking

Fresh curry leaves provide a distinctive aroma and are used in a range of South Indian and other South Asian dishes. They are different from curry powder and are usually used as an aromatic ingredient during cooking.

Nicol Retailer currently lists fresh curry leaves within its Fresh Fruit & Vegetables and Salads & Herbs ranges, providing another fresh aromatic option alongside rosemary and thyme. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

They can be used in tempering, curries, dals, rice dishes, vegetable preparations and sauces.

How to build flavour with herbs, chillies & aromatics

Fresh flavour ingredients work particularly well when they are used in layers rather than added indiscriminately. Different ingredients can contribute aroma, heat, sweetness, earthiness or freshness at different stages of cooking.

Start with aromatics

Garlic and ginger are commonly cooked near the beginning of a recipe, often alongside onions or other base ingredients.

Add heat carefully

Fresh chilli can be added according to your preferred heat level. Remember that you can add more chilli later, but it can be difficult to remove excess heat.

Use herbs according to the dish

Woody herbs such as rosemary and thyme often work well during roasting or longer cooking, while other fresh herbs may be better suited to finishing a dish.

Taste before serving

Taste and adjust seasoning, heat and fresh herbs before serving rather than relying solely on a fixed recipe quantity.

How to store fresh herbs, chillies & aromatics

Fresh herbs and aromatic ingredients can vary in how quickly they deteriorate, so good storage helps you make better use of them.

• Check produce when it arrives and remove damaged items where appropriate.
• Keep fresh herbs away from unnecessary excess moisture.
• Refrigerate fresh chillies where appropriate and use them while firm and fresh.
• Store garlic in a dry, ventilated location unless product-specific guidance says otherwise.
• Keep ginger chilled where appropriate and remove damaged areas before use.
• Follow any storage instructions supplied with the individual product.

Fresh herbs & chillies for restaurants, hospitality & catering

Fresh herbs, chillies and aromatics are particularly useful for professional kitchens where chefs need versatile ingredients that can be used across several dishes and cuisines.

Nicol Retailer positions its fresh produce range for households as well as cafés, restaurants and other foodservice customers, and its wider fresh category includes both everyday and catering-size formats. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

• Restaurant kitchens
• Cafés and foodservice businesses
• Hotels
• Event caterers
• Workplace catering
• Schools and education kitchens

For broader professional food purchasing, explore Catering & Bulk Food .