Whether you’ve got a plethora of fresh herbs on your hands because your herb garden is blooming, or you just wanted to try out that new recipe calling for tarragon and don’t know what to do with the rest, it’s a major bummer to see your greens go to waste. So make the best of those leftovers, try your hand at homemade lemon-herb soap and DIY vinegar, and don’t forget the flavored water. And when you’re ready for something new, these clever tricks will make the most of your bounty.
1. Skirt Steak With Chimichurri Sauce: A deep green chimichurri sauce is just the flavor boost leaner cuts of meat need, and it gives some serious pep to roast veggies. Though this recipe calls for cilantro and parsley, you can improvise with a blend of whatever herbs you have on hand, like mint or basil. Use your best olive oil too — you’ll really taste the difference. (via Tastes Lovely)
2. Herbs Preserved in Ice Cubes: Herb-infused ice is a pretty way to use up leftovers while adding dimension to your favorite drinks. Try freezing mint and lavender to perk up your water, lemonade or even cocktails. Leftover berries make great additions too. Pro tip: Boil the water first for the clearest cubes to highlight your herbs. (via The Merry Thought)
3. Homemade Beef Stock: Homemade stock tastes better than the average packaged broths you’ll find at your grocery store, and you have the added peace of mind of knowing exactly what’s in it. Making stock at home is also the best way to clean out your fridge without seeing a lot of its contents go to waste. (via Chew Town)
4. DIY Herb Drying Rack: If you’re looking for a fun DIY project to spruce up your home for the weekend, look no further. Preserve your garden before it hibernates for the winter with this drying rack for your herbs. What a great way to add function and beauty to your décor. (via The Merry Thought)
5. Five Minute Magic Green Sauce: What’s so magical about this green sauce? For starters, it tastes amazing on everything, *and* it’s vegan. It’s like a more versatile guacamole, with pistachios, parsley and cilantro. If you want to try it as a salad dressing or marinade, add a little extra water, oil or stock. (via Pinch of Yum)
6. Citrus Blueberry Thyme Cake: Fresh herbs go a long way in desserts. They add a complex floral note to an otherwise sweet dish. Such is the case with this blueberry-filled bundt cake, which gets a surprising flavor boost from thyme. It’s just the treat we could imagine having with afternoon tea or as a special breakfast. (via Hungry Rabbit)
7. Green Goddess Hummus: For those of us who haven’t had much success with homemade hummus, don’t fret; the trick is in whipping your tahini in a food processor with lemon until it’s velvety smooth. Once you’ve mastered the basics you can experiment with different flavors, like the fresh parsley and tarragon in this green goddess hummus. (via Cookie and Kate)
8. Blackberry Tarragon Salad Dressing: You’ll fall in love with this dressing for its gorgeous magenta color alone. It looks like a delicious berry smoothie but is sooo much more versatile. (via Kevin Is Cooking)
9. Three Herb Sun Pesto: The most foolproof way to enliven wilting herbs in a hurry is to blend them into a pesto. It goes great on nearly everything, whether you spread it on toast or toss with veggies and pasta. From arugula to coriander, any combination of greens tastes delicious together. If pine nuts aren’t your thing, this recipe calls for a clever substitute — sunflower seeds. (via From the Larder)
10. Thyme Scones With Lemon Curd: These buttery scones are flavored with a bit of fresh thyme, perfect for a melt-in-your-mouth brunch treat. Even better is the addition of a decadent, homemade lemon curd that you’ll want to spread on every bite. (via Lazy Sunday Cooking)
11. Peach Basil Iced Tea: Drink your herbs with this refreshing peach-basil iced tea. If your peaches are super juicy, you won’t need to add much sugar, but if you do happen to want some extra sweetness, try adding agave or maple syrup instead of regular white sugar. (via Delish Knowledge)
12. Best Ever Boozy Fruit Salad: A salad with booze in it? Sign us up! Herbs like mint, rosemary and lemongrass balance out the sweetness of the fruit, and a touch of Limoncello gives this salad a fun grown-up twist. (via The Wanderlust Kitchen)
13. Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Chicken: Roasting a chicken can be a rewarding experience, especially when you take the time to give it extra attention. Clean out your crisper and give your chicken a rub down with a liberal amount of garlic-herb butter. If you love a roast chicken with a crispy exterior, be sure to use a roasting pan to let the hot air circulate around the chicken. (via The Gourmet Gourmand)
14. Roasted Fig Salad: Go ahead, add fresh-cut herbs to your salad mix. Toss them with fruits and veggies, like these rosemary roasted figs, and they’ll add a delicious, savory note to your dish. Your salad game will be forever changed. (via Dine and Dash)
15. Blueberry Basil Ice Cream: Probably the most exciting way to power through a surplus of herbs in your kitchen or garden is to use them in a frozen treat. It’s a clever and delicious trick for adding complexity to any ice cream recipe. This blueberry-basil recipe is a perfect example of how fresh herbs can provide an unexpected flavor boost. (via The Farmer’s Daughter)
16. Braised Fingerling Potatoes With Garlic, Shallots and Fresh Herbs: You haven’t fully experienced potatoes until you’ve tried them like this. The braising method caramelizes the exterior of the spuds until they’re coated in a soft glaze, and the fresh herbs infuse them with tons of flavor. (via A Beautiful Plate)
17. Reverse Seared Steak With Garlic Herb Butter: Adding chilled herb butter as a finishing touch lends a rich quality to a juicy steak. You’ll want a good loaf of bread handy to sop up those juices. (via Kitchen Konfidence)
18. Rosemary and Peppercorn Olive Oil: This infused olive oil recipe is a great addition to salad dressings and makes a thoughtful gift for all the foodies in your life. Living Well Kitchen recommends leaving your sprigs of rosemary on the countertop overnight to dry them just enough for this recipe to sing. (via Living Well Kitchen)
19. Herbed Red Potato Salad: This potato salad is perfect for warm-weather activities like picnicking, beaching and dining al fresco. It’s a twist on French-style potato salad, which, unlike American potato salad, contains no mayonnaise. Instead, it’s made with a healthy dose of green onions and parsley. (via Cookie and Kate)
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