Spring is certainly in the air – and in our world, that means eagerly anticipating the smell of fresh herbs wafting through your window. You’ve planted your garden and now it’s all a waiting game. If you’re anything like us, you’re counting down the days until you can bring your homegrown herbs in and incorporate them into your dishes. Using garden-grown herbs is not only more satisfying, but so much more convenient than having to remember to grab some from your local grocery store.

What could be a better pairing than Alexian’s homemade, hand-crafted pâtés? We’ve put together some of our very favorite combinations for you to test yourself.

Thyme
Thyme is a classic herb, wholeheartedly loved by professional chefs and amateur cooks alike. That’s why it’s a staple in most kitchens and gardens.

Perfect Pâté Pairing: Pheasant Rosemary

What We Love About the Combination: Thyme’s slightly minty aromatic properties give depth of flavor to even the most basic of dishes, and provides a classic complement to the rosemary in our pâté.

Cilantro
Cilantro is easy to grow, and easy to use. You can pile it on tacos, add it atop butter chicken or drop it on top of a bowl of ramen or bibimbap. So why not enjoy it with pâté?

Perfect Pâté Pairing: Grand Marnier

What We Love About the Combination: Cilantro is famously diverse – popping up in cuisines as different and far-reaching as Indian, Thai and Mexican. Cilantro has a bright, almost citrus-y profile, so it works to bring out the notes of orange in our Grand Marnier pâté.

Parsley
It seems like all of our favorite dishes call for parsley – so it’s no surprise we try our best to incorporate it in new ways. Parsley has a unique ability to brighten almost any dish.

Perfect Pâté Pairing: Duck Rillette

What We Love About the Combination: The rich, gamey flavor profile of our Duck Rillette benefits from the brightness parsley provides. Similar to adding a hint of lemon juice to a heavy sauce – we love using parsley to balance our bolder pâtés. Add a handful of leaves into your sandwich in place of lettuce, and savor every bite.

Basil
A classic in Italian cooking, fresh basil has a strong, sweet smell and subtle peppery taste. It’s perfect when paired with tomatoes, mozzarella, and red peppers – staples of our summer kitchen.

Perfect Pâté Pairing: Tomato Basil Pâté

What We Love About the Combination: There’s no such thing as too much basil – especially when it comes to pairing cooked-in basil with fresh leaves. This combination makes for a great, one-bite skewer when paired with cubes of our pâté, leaves of basil and mozzarella balls.

Chives
Chives are related to scallions – with a subtle onion-y flavor. While scallions are more often used in cooking, chives make a great garnish for adding a little crunch and a slight note of onion.

Perfect Pâté Pairing: Black Peppercorn Mousse

What We Love About the Combination: Our mousses have a smooth, spreadable texture, so they benefit from a pairing that adds a bit of crunch.