Apples adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out lovage's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
lovage
+ Add to WorkbenchAbout this ingredient
A large, vigorous perennial herb (Levisticum officinale) with an intensely strong flavor — like celery amplified 10x, with additional anise-bitter depth. Used…
51 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Lovage is one of the most powerful culinary herbs in the European tradition — the same phthalides responsible for celery's flavor appear in much higher concentration in lovage, along with additional aromatic compounds that create its distinctly bittersweet, complex character. A single leaf, finely chopped, provides the celery note of a whole head in delicate preparations. In British cooking, lovage has been used since Roman times in stocks (it was a primary aromatic before celery became common), in lovage cordial (a traditional digestif), and as a pot herb with meats. In Central European cooking (Czech, Slovak, German), it seasons soups and braises as a fundamental background aromatic. The seeds can be used as a spice (stronger than celery seed). For vegetable stock, lovage replaces celery with dramatically more flavor per gram — 1–2 stems in a large batch is ample. The young leaves are most tender; established-plant leaves are most intensely flavored.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
apples
bay leaf
beans, green
bell peppers
caraway
carrots
chard
cheese
chervil
chicken
chile peppers
chives
clams
corn
crab, dungeness
cream cheese
dill
eggs
fennel
fish
garlic
greens
ham
juniper berries
lamb
marjoram
mint
mushrooms
mussels
mustard
nettles, stinging
onions
oregano
parsley
pork
potatoes
rabbit
rice
salads, green
sauces
shellfish
sorrel
soups
spinach
stews
tarragon
thyme
tomatoes and tomato juice
veal
vegetables
zucchini
apples
Apples adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out lovage's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
bay leaf
Bay Leaf complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
beans, green
Beans, Green adds earthy body and protein, pairing well with lovage's savory or fresh notes in stews, salads, and sides.
bell peppers
Bell Peppers brings heat or sharpness that wakes up lovage's milder flavors and adds contrast without needing to rebuild the whole dish.
caraway
Caraway complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
carrots
Carrots adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
chard
Chard adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
cheese
Cheese adds salt, fat, and savory depth that give lovage more structure and make the combination feel fuller.
chervil
Chervil adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
chicken
Chicken adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
chile peppers
Chile Peppers brings heat or sharpness that wakes up lovage's milder flavors and adds contrast without needing to rebuild the whole dish.
chives
Chives supplies an allium backbone that deepens lovage's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
clams
Clams complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
corn
Corn complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
crab, dungeness
Crab, Dungeness brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
cream cheese
Cream Cheese adds richness and helps carry lovage's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
dill
Dill adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
eggs
Eggs complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
fennel
Fennel adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against lovage's natural base notes.
fish
Fish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
garlic
Garlic supplies an allium backbone that deepens lovage's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
greens
Greens adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
ham
Ham adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
juniper berries
Juniper Berries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out lovage's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
lamb
Lamb adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
marjoram
Marjoram adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
mint
Mint adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
mushrooms
Mushrooms reinforces lovage's earthy side and adds umami depth, especially in richer cooked preparations.
mussels
Mussels brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
mustard
Mustard brings heat or sharpness that wakes up lovage's milder flavors and adds contrast without needing to rebuild the whole dish.
nettles, stinging
Nettles, Stinging complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
onions
Onions supplies an allium backbone that deepens lovage's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
oregano
Oregano adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
parsley
Parsley adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
pork
Pork adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
potatoes
Potatoes gives lovage a starchy or baked base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel more substantial.
rabbit
Rabbit adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
rice
Rice gives lovage a starchy or baked base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel more substantial.
salads, green
Salads, Green complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
sauces
Sauces adds liquid seasoning and structure that helps lovage integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like a garnish with ambition.
shellfish
Shellfish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
sorrel
Sorrel complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
soups
Soups adds liquid seasoning and structure that helps lovage integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like a garnish with ambition.
spinach
Spinach adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
stews
Stews adds liquid seasoning and structure that helps lovage integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like a garnish with ambition.
tarragon
Tarragon adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
thyme
Thyme adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
tomatoes and tomato juice
Tomatoes And Tomato Juice adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
veal
Veal adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
vegetables
Vegetables adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
zucchini
Zucchini adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Bay Leaf complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Beans, Green adds earthy body and protein, pairing well with lovage's savory or fresh notes in stews, salads, and sides.
Bell Peppers brings heat or sharpness that wakes up lovage's milder flavors and adds contrast without needing to rebuild the whole dish.
caraway
Caraway complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Carrots adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Chard adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Cheese adds salt, fat, and savory depth that give lovage more structure and make the combination feel fuller.
Chervil adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Chicken adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
Chile Peppers brings heat or sharpness that wakes up lovage's milder flavors and adds contrast without needing to rebuild the whole dish.
Chives supplies an allium backbone that deepens lovage's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
Clams complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Corn complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
crab, dungeness
Crab, Dungeness brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
Cream Cheese adds richness and helps carry lovage's flavor, giving the pairing a smoother texture and a more rounded finish.
Dill adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Eggs complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Fennel adds spice, warmth, or aromatic complexity that plays against lovage's natural base notes.
Fish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
Garlic supplies an allium backbone that deepens lovage's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
Greens adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Ham adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
Juniper Berries adds fruitiness and natural sweetness that rounds out lovage's sharper, richer, or more aromatic side.
Lamb adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
Marjoram adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Mint adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Mushrooms reinforces lovage's earthy side and adds umami depth, especially in richer cooked preparations.
Mussels brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
Mustard brings heat or sharpness that wakes up lovage's milder flavors and adds contrast without needing to rebuild the whole dish.
nettles, stinging
Nettles, Stinging complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
Onions supplies an allium backbone that deepens lovage's savory side and gives the pairing a more complete cooked flavor.
Oregano adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Parsley adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Pork adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
Potatoes gives lovage a starchy or baked base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel more substantial.
Rabbit adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
rice
Rice gives lovage a starchy or baked base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel more substantial.
salads, green
Salads, Green complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
sauces
Sauces adds liquid seasoning and structure that helps lovage integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like a garnish with ambition.
Shellfish brings briny savory depth that contrasts with lovage's fresher, citrusy, or vegetal notes.
Sorrel complements lovage by adding contrast, depth, or texture without overwhelming the ingredient's main character.
soups
Soups adds liquid seasoning and structure that helps lovage integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like a garnish with ambition.
Spinach adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
stews
Stews adds liquid seasoning and structure that helps lovage integrate into a fuller dish instead of wandering around like a garnish with ambition.
Tarragon adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
Thyme adds herbal lift and aromatic contrast, keeping lovage from tasting too heavy, flat, or one-dimensional.
tomatoes and tomato juice
Tomatoes And Tomato Juice adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Veal adds savory richness and browned depth that gives lovage more weight and turns it into a heartier dish.
vegetables
Vegetables adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.
Zucchini adds complementary vegetable character, giving lovage more contrast in texture, sweetness, bitterness, or freshness.