Add Culinary Flair to Your Garden and Your Recipes

Spring is here and summer is approaching soon! If you want to add some delicious garden fresh flavor to your dishes, home-grown herbs are the ticket! Adding a sprinkling of fresh basil to a pizza or rosemary to a marinade will make your summer party menus extra special.

Check out our list of the best (and most delicious) herbs to plant in your garden or windowsill planters this spring. We even included some recipe inspirations so you’ll know exactly what to cook with your crop.

Herb: Rosemary- Rosemary can be prolific. Plant it in an area where it will be allowed to grow freely. Rosemary’s hearty stems help it withstand many seasons and is a favorite among novice gardeners and experts alike.

Recipe Inspiration- Use rosemary in your poultry dishes. It pairs beautifully with garlic for a marinade. Use the leftover woody stems for kebab skewers at your next cookout. They’ll add extra flavor and create a fun presentation.

Herb: Basil- Basil is a leafy herb that grows quickly and plentifully. It’s great for any level gardener.

Recipe Inspiration- A bumper crop of basil works great in fresh Italian dishes. Add some torn basil to a delicious caprese salad, on a pizza margherita, or to create a fresh pesto to use throughout the season in cold and hot dishes.

Herb: Mint- Mint is an easy to grow herb that does extremely well in a pot. It doesn’t need to be in direct sunlight and can thrive in the shade. It’s a plant that loves to be watered, but is otherwise low maintenance.

Recipe Inspiration- Summer’s cocktails were made for mint! Mint tastes delicious muddled into a mojito or a mint julep. For a non-alcoholic option, try mixing in a few sprigs of fresh mint in your lemonade or iced tea for a unique twist.

Thyme- This herb makes amazing ground cover in your garden. This gardener friendly plant also works well when it’s potted. Its delicate leaves make for a beautiful plant but an even more delicious ingredient.

Recipe Inspiration- Thyme loves to play with lemon. Toss some thyme leaves into a poultry rub along with some lemon zest. It has a bright flavor that chefs love to use.

Oregano- Make sure your oregano has great sunlight and good water drainage. Pretty flowering buds indicate when the oregano is ready to be harvested.

Recipe Inspiration- Middle Eastern, Italian, and Mexican cuisines all use oregano in their dishes. Mix oregano with basil and garlic for an Italian meatball recipe that’s out of this world.

Cilantro- Cilantro can be planted in the ground or in a pot. Cilantro loves to have lots and lots of water, so make sure it’s watered frequently.

Recipe Inspiration- Cilantro is fresh and tastes delicious in homemade pico de gallo, salsa, or guacamole. Use it alongside its favorite partner, lime juice, to complement cilantro’s bright and fresh flavors.

Fresh herbs add low-calorie, high-impact flavor to dishes. Growing your own herbs gives you a sense of pride and will save you money in the produce aisle this spring and summer. Happy gardening!