30+ Recipes and Creative Ideas

Not to brag, but I’m living the summer of my dreams. This morning, I woke up at 6:30, grabbed a cup of coffee, and went outside to check my garden. Now I’m sitting here in a scarf and a flowery summer dress (I know), thinking about the herbs I grew from the young shoots I picked up at Home Depot and HEB in full bloom (minus that one cilantro plant-I had a cock) and dreaming of all the ways I’ll use them.

I know it sounds weird to bring this up in an article about how to use summer herbs, but I have to add a little gratitude to the mix. I’ve always wanted to be a coffee gardener. This was the summer I finally asked myself the question that changed everything: Am I living a life that feels like me? I realized that I just didn’t want to be that person—me already i am that person. I didn’t prioritize creating an opportunity for it to happen. Lots of mulch and a few weekends later, I have a thriving vegetable garden to wander through on a slow summer morning. (Questionable vegetable crops and flower seeds are a story for another day.)

Whether you have a lush garden, a few herbs growing on your windowsill, a bunch from the farmers market, or your Instacart shopper accidentally brought you three pounds of basil instead of three sprigs (true nightmare fuel), there are countless delicious ways to put fresh herbs to good use. Let’s talk about it.

Here’s how to use summer herbs before they wilt in the fridge (or take from your garden)—my favorite creative ideas and recipes for using every sprig to its fullest potential.

Creative Ideas for Using Summer Herbs

Even before me The goddess of the garden days, I loved having fresh herbs like the last one something. A little touch of green adds a lot to the full power of a dish, but it works just as well for cocktails, desserts, homemade gifts, and even at home. Here are a few unexpected ways I like to use herbs.

Make herbal drinks

From lemonade to sparkling water to cocktails, herbs instantly elevate simple drinks. On lighter days, a sprig of mint and sliced ​​cucumber in water is my go-to for a quick refresher. But basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, and lavender are all contenders—and they go perfectly with summer fruit in a glass.

Freeze herbs into ice cubes

This is fun to do with kids or girls alike. Freeze chopped herbs with water, citrus slices, or edible flowers to make the perfect ice cubes to dress up lemonade, iced tea, or sparkling water.

Mix in the combined butter

It’s hard to beat butter on its own, but combined with chopped herbs, garlic, citrus zest, or plain salt? This is heaven. Roll on a log while the butter is soft, then cut the round whenever you need roasted vegetables, meat, corn, or fresh bread.

Brush with olive oil or vinegar

Steep rosemary, thyme, oregano, or basil in olive oil or white wine vinegar, then use in your homemade dressing and marinade recipes.

Dry or freeze herbs for later

If your garden is overflowing, tie herbs into small bundles and hang them upside down to dry. Or, chop them up and freeze them in ice cube trays covered in olive oil. You will have home remedies ready after summer is over.

Use herbs as a focal point or place setting

One of my favorite tricks is to fill simple jars with bunches of basil, dill, rosemary, or mint instead of flowers. They smell amazing, look effortlessly beautiful, and are perfect for snapping while you cook.

Add herbs to desserts

Fresh herbs pair wonderfully with berries, peaches, oranges, and cream. Think basil whipped cream, thyme cookies, rosemary olive oil cake, or mint dipped in homemade chocolate ice cream.

Make herbal simple syrup for cocktails

My favorite homemade cocktail starts in the garden. Make a simple syrup by dissolving equal parts sugar and water, then top with a few sprigs of fresh herbs. I like to keep basil simple syrup in the fridge to mix with frozen peaches and tequila, then top it off with sparkling water or bubbly for the ultimate summer cocktail.

Recipes Using Top Basil

If summer had a formal flavor, I would nominate basil. It’s an herb that finds its way into almost every meal this time of year, whether it’s stuffed into sandwiches, tossed with tomatoes, mixed with pesto, or spread over pizza straight from the oven. And if you grow basil yourself, you probably know that it has a tendency to produce faster than you can keep up with—which is exactly the kind of problem I like to have.

Recipes to Use Up Mint

Mint may be the easiest plant to grow—and the hardest to maintain. Once it goes away, it seems to recur overnight. Fortunately, it is flexible as it grows. Beyond mojitos, fresh mint adds lightness to salads, smoothies, desserts, fruit, and some of my favorite summer drinks.

Recipes for Using Up Dill

Dill has a way of making summer snacks taste like they came from a cozy restaurant. Its mild, grassy flavor pairs well with pickles, potatoes, seafood, yogurt, and creamy dips, making it my go-to herb all season long.