The flavours of a dish are enriched by the side dishes or the toppings that are done on it. Food all over the world has grown and has changed the lifestyles of people.
Parsley and Italian Parsley serve the same purpose and are known as an equivalent to basil.
Key Takeaways
- Parsley is a common name for Petroselinum crispum, while Italian parsley specifically refers to the flat-leaf variety of the plant.
- Italian parsley has a stronger, more robust flavor than curly-leaf parsley.
- Both types of parsley are used as herbs in various cuisines, but Italian parsley is preferred in Mediterranean dishes.
Parsley vs Italian Parsley
Parsley is a biennial herb that is used as a garnish and in cooking for its fresh, herbaceous flavour. It has flat leaves and is used as a garnish or as an ingredient in sauces, soups, stews, and other dishes. Italian parsley resembles regular parsley but with broader, flatter leaves.
Parsley is a leaf that is used for the appearance and the decoration it gives to the food. Generally, it is referred to as round-shaped parsley and can have no to mild taste.
Cooks say that the taste of parsley is muted or sometimes can be bitter if the right one is not chosen and it has leaves that are round and have a ruffled appearance.
Italian parsley is famous for the richness of taste it provides to the food. The leaf is also known as flat-shaped leaves and has a herbaceous flavour. Due to its name, we can guess that it is flat and similar to that of cilantro.
The leaves are used in a variety of dishes and are compared with basil and oregano due to the change of taste it provides to a dish.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Parsley | Italian Parsley |
|---|---|---|
| The shape of the leaf | Parsley is round in shape | Italian parsley is flat-shaped leaf-like cilantro. |
| Taste | The taste of parsley is quite bland and bitter if the leaf is odd. | The taste of Italian parsley is quite flavourful and used as basil or oregano. |
| Usage | Parsley is used as a decorator for the dish. | Italian parsley is used in dishes due to its flavorful taste is used as a seasoning. |
| Countries and dishes | The parsley or curled parsley is associated with French dishes. | The Italian parsley is used to give a flavour to the Italian dishes |
| Quantity | Parsleys are not always flavourless but it depends on the quantity used. It has to be used twice for seasoning. | Italian parsley has to be used in smaller quantities for the same effect. |
What is Parsley?
Parsley is a round leaf that is used for various purposes in dishes. The dish in which parsley is used is said to be either French or Italian. Parsley can be of various types.
They differ in their taste as well as the shape and purpose they serve.
One such type of parsley is round-shaped parsley. The name was kept because the leaves of the plant are round or curly. The curl of the leaf makes it easier to differentiate between various kinds.
The round parsley is used for garnishing due to its eye-catching effect on the dish.
The round-shaped parsley is said to have a mild or no flavour, due to which they are used less as a seasoning. The seasoning has to be flavourful and rich in taste.
Some cooks say they can be used depending upon some factors, whereas others say that if the leaf is odd, it might taste bitter as well.
The fact cannot be said to be hundred per cent correct because some of the curled leaves have a great taste, and the taste also depends upon the ageing of the plant and the quantity used.
If you want to use curly parsley, use the double quantity. It is associated with French dishes, and the French people use a large quantity.
What is Italian Parsley?
Italian parsley is a commonly used seasoning by people to make food tastier and mouth-watering. Seasoning is a herb used to enhance the taste and look of the food.
Seasoning has been common for so many years and was always there in the old recipes.
Italian parsley is a flat-shaped leaf like that of cilantro. Flat-shaped leaves are said to be more flavourful and also the preferred type for this purpose. The Italian parsley can be used as both a seasoner and a garnisher.
They are used in vibrant dishes which need to be flavoured properly. It is used in Italian dishes and restaurants as a substitute for Basil and Oregano. The taste is also not preferred by everyone since it can be very strong sometimes.
The usage of Italian parsley depends on the stage and the form of parsley that is being used. The dried leaves are added at the start since the dish requires time to absorb the flavours of the herb.
The freshly chopped herbs are added at the end because if they are added early, they will lose their herbaceous taste due to overcooking of the herb. It is used when we want to add more than a garnish.
Main Differences Between Parsley and Italian Parsley
- Parsley is round in shape, whereas Italian parsley is a flat-shaped leaf-like cilantro.
- The taste of parsley is quite bland and bitter if the leaf is odd, whereas the taste of Italian parsley is quite flavourful and used as basil or oregano.
- Parsley is used as a decorator for the dish. In comparison, Italian parsley is used in dishes due to its flavorful taste and is used as a seasoning.
- The parsley or curled parsley is associated with French dishes, whereas the Italian parsley is used to give a flavour to Italian dishes.
- Parsleys are not always flavourless, but it depends on the quantity used. It has to be used twice for seasoning, whereas Italian parsley has to be used in smaller quantities for the same effect.
- https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfp/article-abstract/68/4/687/171970
- https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2007-969254
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The information here is very useful, and well explained.
Yes, it’s always good to learn about different ingredients and their uses.
This article has enlightened me on the differences between parsley and Italian parsley. Such an interesting read.
I think both are wonderful herbs and they can both enhance a dish if used correctly.