How to Use Fresh Herbs from Your Garden

If you’re interested in gardening but unsure where to start, might I recommend trying some herbs? Herbs are so fun and easy to grow! Herbs grow great in any garden space, from a raised bed garden to a sunny windowsill. We have several that grow year-round out in our garden. It’s fun to go out to the garden and get fresh herbs for our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners! Besides using them in cooking, there are so many different ways to use fresh herbs! Today, I am sharing 5 of my favorite ways that I use the fresh herbs from my garden!

How to Use Fresh Herbs from Your Garden

Compound Butter

Herbs & Butter? Name a better combination! Compound butter could not be easier to make and there are so many different ways to make and use it! My favorite plant-based food blog Love and Lemons has a lovely post with 4 different combinations! My favorite combinations are rosemary & thyme, sundried tomato & basil, and garlic & chive.

Make sure your butter is at room temperature so it will be easy to mix in the herbs and go to town! Stir the butter into mashed potatoes or slather it onto corn on the cob or a baked potato. Let it melt over a steak or simply spread it on toast. Try this and I promise you won’t regret it!

Herb Salt

Herb salt is even easier to make than herb butter! All you need is kosher or sea salt and your choice of herbs. I mix mine in a food processor and then shake it out onto a cookie sheet and let it dry overnight. Once dry, break it up and put it into your desired container. This makes a lovely gift for any occasion! Use this as you would regular salt. I love to use mine on popcorn and to season my eggs for breakfast!

Salads

Herbs make great additions to salads! The flavor is unmatched and can be a pleasant surprise when most people aren’t expecting herbs in a salad. Generally, you’ll want to use softer herbs like fennel fronds, dill, basil, tarragon, chives, and mint. But, rosemary and thyme flowers can make a great addition as well. Use herbs in your dressing or even finely chopped and added directly to the salad!

Homemade Tea

Homemade tea is something that is relatively new to me but has quickly become one of my favorite things to do with my herbs. I mainly use my mint and chamomile for tea but I might experiment with calendula and echinacea this year! You can use the fresh leaves and blooms or hang them to dry or dehydrate and store them for later!

Infused Oil

There are many fancy herb oils on the market but it is easy to do at home. There are several methods you can use to make herb-infused oil. I recommend following a recipe. I love using herb-infused oil when making salad dressings or dips or drizzling over pizza or fresh bread!

You can make herb-infused oils for skincare as well!

How to Use Fresh Herbs from Your Garden