Cooking with Fresh Herbs for Delicious Recipes: How to Use Them, Store Them and Grow Them

Do you love the taste of fresh herbs? If so, you’re in luck. Not only are they delicious, but they also offer a variety of health benefits. 

One of my most vivid childhood memories was the enormous garden we had in our backyard. My Dad lovingly tended to that garden each and every day. There was always a never-ending supply of fresh herbs and vegetables that we ate in meals my Mom prepared for us from homemade tomato sauce with basil to fried meatballs filled with fresh parsley.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about the benefits of cooking with fresh herbs, how to use them in your cooking, how to store them, and how to grow them. I will also provide recipes for some of my favorite dishes. So read on and let’s get cooking!

Nothing brightens a dish quite like fresh herbs! Fresh herbs are powerhouses of flavor and nutrition and can be used in a variety of ways in daily cooking. Herbs are more than just a garnish, they can be the star of the show!

Here are some tips on how to best use a variety of fresh herbs:

Using Fresh Herbs

Basil:

Basil is a staple in Italian cooking and can be used in a variety of dishes. Try adding basil to pasta sauce, pesto, or Caprese salad. You can also use it to make homemade basil oil or flavored vinegar.

Cilantro:

Cilantro is a versatile herb that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Add cilantro to salsa, guacamole, or Thai curry for a burst of flavor. Or try using it in desserts like this mango cilantro ice cream or these cilantro lime bars.

Dill:

Dill weed is often used to flavor pickles, but it can also be used in a variety of other dishes. Add dill to potato salad, egg salad, or salmon for a boost of flavor. You can also use it to make homemade dill butter or sour cream.

Mint:

Mint is a refreshing herb that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Add mint to iced tea, lemonade, or Mojitos. Or try using it in savory dishes like this lamb with mint sauce or these grilled chicken skewers with mint yogurt sauce.

Parsley:

This bright green herb is most commonly used as a garnish, but it can also be used to add flavor to a variety of dishes. Chop parsley and add it to salads, soups, pasta dishes, or any other dish that could use a little brightness.

Rosemary:

Rosemary is a hearty, woody herb that has a long growing season and is easy to dry. Because of its unmistakably strong flavor, rosemary should be used sparingly and pairs best with animal proteins

Sage:

Sage is a woody herb that is often used in stuffing and gravy. It can also be used to flavor pork, chicken, or lamb dishes.

Thyme:

Thyme is a versatile herb that can be used in a variety of dishes. Add thyme to soups, stews, sauces, or roasted vegetables. You can also use it to make homemade thyme oil or vinegar.

Now that you know a little bit more about herbs, let’s talk about how to store them.

Storing Hearty Herbs

Materials for storing:

• Bunches of hearty herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage
• Paper towels
• Mesh produce bags

Wipe hearty herbs clean with a damp paper towel. Dampen a fresh paper towel and loosely wrap the herb. Place the mesh produce bag in the refrigerator.

Storing Tender Herbs

Materials for storing:

• Bunches of tender herbs such as basil, parsley, cilantro, and dill
• Mason jars or recycled glass jars
• Water
• Light plastic bags
• Elastic band

Make a fresh cut on the stems of herbs and remove any bottom leaves. Place in a glass jar with about 1″ of water on the bottom. Cover loosely with a plastic bag and secure with elastic. Place in refrigerator. Change water as needed to keep it clear. Wash herbs as you use them.

How to Dry Fresh Herbs

Herbs that are hearty, such as rosemary, oregano, and sage, dry well when air-dried. Due to their high moisture levels, delicate herbs such as basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley should be dried in a dehydrator.

Herbs that are hearty, such as rosemary, oregano, and sage, dry well when air-dried. Due to their high moisture levels, delicate herbs such as basil, dill, mint, chives, and parsley should be dried in a dehydrator.

Materials for drying:

• Kitchen string
• Dry, low-humidity space to hang herbs

1. Inspect herbs and remove any leaves that appear to be rotten.
2. Shake to remove debris.
3. Expose about 1″ of the stems by removing lower leaves.
4. Bundle herbs using kitchen string and tie ends tightly.
5. Hang in a warm, dry space over a clean pillowcase to capture falling leaves.
6. Herbs should dry within 3 weeks.
7. Carefully remove leaves and store them in a covered container in your pantry.

How to Freeze Fresh Herbs

Freezing is one of the best ways to preserve the flavor of fresh herbs. Tender and hearty herbs do equally well with this technique.

• Remove leaves from stems.
• Wash and thoroughly dry leaves.
• Chop herbs and place them in ice cube trays.
• If you intend on using herbs in cooking, cover with high-quality oil, like olive oil or avocado oil, or broth.
• If you intend to add herbs to iced beverages, you can cover herbs with water or juice of choice.
• Once frozen, you can remove cubes from trays and store them in freezer-safe bags or containers. Be sure to label!

5 Tips for Growing Your Own Herbs

Living a more natural and holistic life has many facets, including what you eat and where you get your food. To be as holistic as possible, consider growing herbs from home. Not only can you use herbs to cook, but you can also use some of them for healing and natural medicine. You will save money and ensure you have the most organic herbs possible.

1. Have a Plan Beforehand

The first step to growing your own herbs is the prep stage. You want to take some time figuring out where you will place your garden, what you intend to grow and ways you are going to use them, and how much room you are going to need. This is when the research comes in handy. The worst thing you can do is just go buy some seeds and fertilizer, and start planting without having planned exactly what you intend to do beforehand.

2. Decide Between Seeds or Start Plants

There are two main ways to grow herbs; you can start them from seeds, or you can purchase plants that have been started for you. Naturally, if you are a beginner at growing, the plants are going to be much easier for you. This is recommended for most people who are starting their very first herb garden, as you ease into caring for herbs, without having to start them from seeds.

3. Become Familiar with Each Herb

Before you start planting your herbs, understand what each herb needs you to do as far as care and growing it healthy. Every herb will have different guidelines, such as how much water it needs, when to give it direct sunlight, and whether it needs to be in a container or in the ground.

4. Caring for Your Herbs

While many herbs can be grown indoors in planters, they still need to be close to a window. Some plants may need to be moved outdoors for at least a few hours, as most herbs should get 3-4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Again, this will depend on your herbs.

Remember that care includes sunlight and temperature control, watering, and using the right soil.

5. Harvest When Ready

Something to keep in mind when harvesting your herbs is that the more often you do it (when they are ready), the healthier the herb plant will continue to grow. Again, look at each variety’s instructions to understand harvesting guidelines.

Below are some of the easiest herbs to grow indoors.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a pretty easy herb to grow indoors, and it will last quite a while, though it does take longer to grow than some of the other herbs. You want to plant your lemon balm in the planter in the fall season, then make sure it is inside during the cold winter months. If you have an outdoor space, it might thrive on a patio or windowsill in the spring.

Basil

Basil is a popular herb to grow inside your home. It is great for pesto for cooking, though also has some holistic remedies. Basil is not going to last as long, so you want to use them pretty fast after harvesting, before getting a new plant.

Sage

If you are looking to burn sage as part of your holistic lifestyle, it can be grown and cared for inside your home. Starter plants are relatively easy to find, and a great option for beginners. You can put them in a pot with potting soil, and keep it moist. The plant should root within a few weeks.

Rosemary

Lastly, there is rosemary, which has a lot of wonderful health benefits. Rosemary is not only great for herbal remedies but for cooking as well. It works great in hotter climates but is ideal for the cooler climates. Just make sure you follow directions for each plant.

Recipes Using Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs are a delicious and healthy way to add flavor to your food. They are also easy to use and store. So the next time you’re cooking, give them a try! I’ve included some recipes below that will help you get started. Enjoy!

Salmon with Lemon-Dill Dressing

 Lemon-Dill Dressing

Italian-style Cod with Tomatoes and Capers

Italian Herb Blend

Avocado Toast with Artichokes and Basil

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