What to do with fresh herbs? Whether you have an overflowing herb garden or herbs wilting in the fridge, these recipes with fresh herbs are for you.
I'm a huge fan of cooking with fresh herbs, both for the fresh flavor they add to a variety of dishes, and for the health benefits.
You know what I don't love about fresh herbs though? They can easily go bad in the fridge before you use them all. I hate food waste and it always makes me sad when beautiful fresh produce or herbs wilt before I use them. Whether you're trying to avoid this scenario or you have an abundant herb garden and simply want to make the most of it, I have both recipes with fresh herbs and some general tips on what to do with fresh herbs for you today.
But first, I want to spend a moment on the benefits of including fresh herbs in your meal plan. Maybe it's the dietitian in me but I love geeking out over this sort of thing.
Benefits of Fresh Herbs
You could easily write an entire book on the benefits of fresh herbs. I've simply included a few highlights for a few of the most common herbs to provide a bit of inspiration. I find that if I have the nutritional benefits in mind, I'm that much more likely to take the time to incorporate them into my weekly meal plan.
- Basil: A significant source of Vitamin K, basil may also reduce memory loss, blood pressure, and depression. Smelling basil also may help you feel more alert so consider growing some in a kitchen garden to smell whenever you need a boost!
- Rosemary: Did you know that even just smelling rosemary can give you a brain boost? Inhaling the scent can improve memory, focus and mood. Rosemary is also full of antioxidants! Many studies on rosemary focus on the extract or essential oils so more research is needed to understand the positive impact of adding rosemary to your diet.
- Oregano: Like most herbs, oregano is a super healthy addition to your diet. In addition to being antibacterial, it contains antioxidants and a substantial amount of vitamin K.
- Dill: Dill provides Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Manganese, Folate and Iron. Dill is also high in antioxidants. Including dill in your diet may benefit heart health, blood sugar levels, cancer risk and bone health.
- Cilantro: Cilantro supports the health of your brain, possibly reducing the risk of Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease as well as anxiety. In addition, one of cilantro's biggest benefits is its prevention of blood sugar spikes. Finally, cilantro has antimicrobial elements and thus may help prevent food poisoning. It's worth noting that many studies on cilantro use cilantro extract, rather than the leaves.
- Parsley: Parsley is packed with calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K. This herb is great for your immune system, eye health, bone health, heart health and blood sugar levels – pretty much everything!
- Thyme: Like most herbs, thyme is full of health benefits. It's thought to potentially help lower blood pressure, improve immunity and even improve your mood. Many of the studies have focused on thyme essential oil, thyme extract or thyme tea so further studies are needed to substantiate these benefits from culinary uses of thyme.
- Mint: Rich in vitamin A, iron and manganese, mint is a delicious way to add a little nutrient boost to your meals. Since vitamin A is fat soluble, it's best absorbed when consumed with fat. Moreover, mint can help with IBS and indigestion.
- Sage: Sage contains a substantial amount of vitamin K as well as small amounts of magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6 and iron. It's also full of antioxidants!
Tips for Cooking with Fresh Herbs
Are you convinced of the many benefits of incorporating fresh herbs? Good! Before we get to the recipes, I have a couple of tips for cooking with fresh herbs:
- How to Keep Your Herbs Fresh: Keeping your herbs fresh isn't an issue if you're growing your own – you can simply snip them as you need them. But if you're purchasing herbs from the grocery store or farmer's market, you'll want to store them properly for maximum shelf life. I like to keep my fresh herbs in the fridge in a jar of clean water. I find they last much longer this way, than in their grocery store packaging. TheKitchn has tips on how to take this strategy a step further!
- How to Chop Fresh Herbs: I love to encourage you to learn effective knife skills. While I'm not working as a professional chef, I'm thankful for the skills I learned in culinary school on a daily basis. Knowing the proper way to chop things makes meal prep both safer and SO much faster. I've recorded short videos on how to chop fresh thyme, how to chop fresh sage and how to chop fresh rosemary.
- How to Sub Fresh Herbs for Dried: If you have a beloved recipe that calls for dried herbs, you can absolutely sub fresh herbs into the recipe. In general, you'll want to use more of a fresh herb than dried. If a recipe calls for dried herbs, substitute about 3 times as much of its fresh counterpart. So if a recipe calls for 1 tsp of a dried herb, substitute 3 tsp of a fresh herb. Get more tips on storing and substituting fresh herbs here!
What to Do with Fresh Herbs – 44 Recipes with Fresh Herbs
Recipes with Fresh Basil
The Best Basil Aioli
If you have fresh basil on hand, this homemade aioli is a must-make! It's incredibly versatile. Spread it on a wrap, use it as a salmon marinade, or enjoy it as a dip for raw veggies. You could absolutely experiment with different herbs here as well! Dill or parsley would be delicious.
Grilled Caprese Pork Chops
These grilled pork chops are such a fun and creative way to enjoy the quintessential summer flavors of a caprese salad.
Tomato Basil Salad
This lovely tomato basil salad is delicious with eggs as pictured here, but it also makes a great summer side dish for salmon, chicken or shrimp.
Pesto Stuffed Acorn Squash
While this pesto stuffed acorn squash has a decidedly fall vibe, you can easily repurpose the stuffing to make stuffed mushrooms, stuffed peppers or stuffed zucchini in the summer months.
White Bean Hummus
This is an excellent way to enjoy the bountiful fresh veggies this time of year!
Grilled Eggplant, Tomato Mozzarella Stacks with Pesto
How lovely are these! This veggie-forward dish that features fresh basil is a celebration of summer produce.
Summer “Pasta” Salad
This “pasta” salad is made with zoodles (though you could totally sub actual pasta if you prefer!) It includes a lemon basil sauce you're going to want to put on everything!
Recipes with Parsley
Easy Paleo Ranch Dressing
This easy paleo ranch gets its creaminess from coconut milk and its bright flavor from fresh parsley.
Mediterranean Salmon Salad
This bright and flavorful salad incorporates a whole bunch of parsley, which perfectly complements the feta and kalamata olives.
Middle Eastern Salad w/ Tahini Sauce
If you have some fresh parsley to use up, you can't go wrong with this Middle Eastern salad!
Parsley Marinated Chicken
This parsley-marinated chicken is a subscriber favorite! This marinade has only 6 ingredients (including salt and pepper) and comes together in just a couple of minutes.
Classic Chicken Vegetable Soup Recipe
While this recipe calls for fresh parsley, you could easily sub a different fresh herb like thyme, dill, or oregano here. It's quite flexible!
Recipes with Fresh Cilantro
Ginger Ground Beef Salad with Peanut Salad Dressing
If you're looking for recipes with cilantro, this Ginger Ground Beef Salad is a delicious choice.
Chorizo Bowls with Veggies
These chorizo bowls with veggies call for an entire bunch of cilantro.
Grilled Veggie & Refried Bean Tacos
If you have some cilantro to use up, tacos are a great way to do it!
Vegetarian Peanut Stew
This Western African-inspired peanut stew includes cilantro. The fresh herb adds a brightness to the dish that offsets the earthy flavors of the peanuts and sweet potatoes.
Paleo Fish Taco Bowls w/ Cilantro Lime Slaw
These paleo fish taco bowls are another recipe where cilantro shines.
Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowls
These healthy chicken burrito bowls have so many delicious toppings, including fresh cilantro!
Thai Curry Soup
This is one of my very favorite recipes! It's also a beautiful way to use up your fresh cilantro.
Potato Nachos
This recipe is so fun! Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top for a touch of green.
Chimichurri Sauce
This homemade chimichurri, which features fresh cilantro and parsley, is one of our #1 most popular recipes. It's extremely versatile. Try it on eggs, roasted veggies, as a veggie dip or on chicken, steak or shrimp.
Dairy Free Cilantro Pesto
If you don't eat dairy, you may be surprised to hear that you can make an absolutely delicious pesto without a trace of parmesan. While traditional pesto uses basil, my version uses fresh cilantro for a fun twist.
I had simply too many recipes with fresh cilantro to include them all in detail. Here are a few more:
- Green Chili Burritos with Guacamole
- Slow Cooker Carnitas Bowl
- Smoky Spaghetti Squash Boats with Bison
- Grilled Coconut Lime Shrimp
- Shredded Beef Barbacoa Lettuce Wraps
- Slow Cooker Chicken Verde
- Mexican Pork Salad
- Mexican Jicama Shrimp Saute
- Southwestern Steak Salad with Homemade Salsa Ranch
- Zesty Citrus Marinade
Recipes with Fresh Mint
Grilled Curry Chicken w/ Yogurt Mint Sauce
Oh my goodness, this sauce is everything! It's cool, creamy and so perfect for summer.
Minted Fruit Salad
Fresh mint truly elevates this fruit salad to a special dish. It's lovely as part of a brunch spread, or as a light, healthy dessert.
Watermelon Pizza
This is one of our Prep Dish subscribers' all time favorite recipes! It's a big hit with kiddos and adults alike. Fresh mint is one of the toppings that takes this healthy dessert to the next level.
Strawberry Smoothie with Mint
Oh my, if you haven't tried adding fresh mint to a smoothie, you are in for such a treat! It perfectly complements the strawberries and hint of lime in this smoothie.
Watermelon Mojito Popsicles
Here is another one where fresh mint brings out the best in summer's produce. This popsicle recipe would be amazing to celebrate the final days of summer! Plus, it's a great way to use up some of that giant watermelon…
Recipes with Rosemary
Simple Pomegranate Cocktail with Rosemary
We have abundant rosemary growing on our property here in Central Texas so I'm always on the hunt for creative ways to use it. This simple pomegranate cocktail with rosemary is one of my favorites!
Sweet & Spicy Rosemary Pecans
These sweet & spicy rosemary pecans have a special place in my heart. Why? This was the very first recipe I ever posted on the blog! It's still just as tasty today.
Grilled Rosemary Pork Chops
Grilling pork chops is one of my favorite ways to enjoy them. Both the pork chops and nectarines are flavored with fresh rosemary and grilled. Delicious!
Recipes with Fresh Dill
Mustard Dill Salmon
Dill and salmon are a classic combination, and for good reason! Combined with grainy mustard, fresh dill gives this recipe a lovely brightness you don't want to miss.
What to Do with Fresh Herbs – Recipes Using Multiple Herbs
Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
My lemon herb vinaigrette is one of my all time favorite homemade salad dressings. It calls for parsley and basil but this recipe is flexible so feel free to use whatever fresh herbs you have on hand.
14 Fun Non Alcoholic Drinks
From Basil and Orange Infused Water to Cucumber, Mint & Ginger Sparkling Water, fresh herbs are a great way to liven up a summer beverage.
Green Shakshuka
I'm a huge fan of incorporating veggies in breakfast and this green shakshuka makes it easy! Both fresh basil and fresh cilantro elevate the flavor, making it pretty much irresistible.
What to Do with Fresh Herbs – Bonus Tips
While I LOVE recipes featuring fresh herbs, sometimes you just have a small amount to use up. OR, maybe you have a whole bunch from your herb garden and one recipe won't cut it. Here are two general tips for what to do with fresh herbs.
Freezing
This is one of my favorite freezer meal prep hacks! Wash and chop your fresh herbs and add to an ice cube tray. Fill the cubes with olive oil and freeze! You can transfer to a freezer container once frozen. Now you have some delicious fresh herb-infused olive oil cubes to use throughout the coming months. You can use these any time you're making soup or sautéing veggies and it will add SO much flavor!
Add to salads
Fresh herbs really elevate a basic salad. Dill, cilantro, oregano, parsley – these are all delicious when added to a salad and it's so simple!
FAQ – Everything You Need to Know About What to Do with Fresh Herbs
What can I make with a bunch of fresh herbs?
Toss herbs in fresh salads, add to soups, make my lemon herb vinaigrette, or make any one up the 44 recipes listed above!
Can you freeze fresh herbs?
Yes! You can indeed freeze fresh herbs. Wash and chop your fresh herbs, add to an ice cube tray and fill up the cubes with olive oil.
Can you use the stems of fresh herbs?
Yes, you actually can use the stems of fresh herbs. While they're often discarded, you can include the stems if you like. Just chop small as the texture is not always as agreeable as the leaves.
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