Rosemary, a fragrant herb, is a member of the mint family like many other healthy herbs such as basil, oregano and thyme. It is a rich source of powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, Vitamin B6 and calcium. Aside from its culinary uses, rosemary is also known for health benefits including enhancing the memory, alleviating muscle pain, relieving indigestion, boosting the circulatory and immune system, promoting hair growth and lowering the risk of certain types of cancer.

So if you have some rosemary in stock, try these delicious dishes for dinner:

Apple and Rosemary Pork Tenders

What you need:

• 1 1/4 kg. pork tenderloin
• 1 1/2 cups hard apple cider
• 3/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 apples, cored and sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 1 large onion, sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• Purified water

Place pork tenderloin in a large container. Combine rosemary, marjoram, thyme, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the mixture evenly over pork then pour cider over it. Add purified water to completely submerge meat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours to overnight. When ready, place tenderloin in a roasting pan, pour marinade over it then bake in a pre-heated oven (325 F) for 1 hour. Scatter apple and onion pieces over the roast then spoon brown sugar evenly over pan. Return roast to oven and cook for another hour. To make the gravy, cook flour in a skillet until browned. Add drippings from the roast and maple syrup and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture has thickened. Serve roast with gravy.

Creamy Pea and Rosemary Soup

What you need:

• 1 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups green split peas
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 leek, thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 slices bacon, sliced into 1-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

In a large pan over medium heat, cook bacon pieces until crisp. Add carrot, onion, leek and garlic and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add chicken broth, split peas, bay leaves and rosemary to the mixture and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or when peas are cooked. Serve warm.

Ham Casserole with Rosemary

What you need:

• 1 kg. cooked ham, cubed
• 5 eggs
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 cups purified water
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup grits
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Layer cooked ham in a casserole dish and set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil then pour grits into the water. Lower heat and allow to simmer, stirring constantly, for about 4-5 minutes or when grits are thick and tender. Stir in cheese and butter with the grits. Remove from heat and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper and combine the mixture with grits. Pour grits over ham and bake in a pre-heated oven (350 F) for 40 to 45 minutes or until casserole is bubbling.

Leave your rosemary chicken for a while and go try these delicious rosemary recipes instead!