If you are looking to add a certain “je ne sais quoi” to your dishes and you like the idea of growing your own herbs, starting with these is the best way to do it. These summer herbs are so easy to grow that you can literally start with herbs from your refrigerator and have them growing on your balcony in a matter of weeks. It’s a great way to get into some light gardening if all you have is a windowsill and some small pots. Plus, your summer dishes will be full of delicious fresh flavors like never before. Here are some of the best summer herbs and delicious ways to use them.
1. basil
We have to start with the basil. It is incredibly easy to grow. You can literally buy a bunch at the store, take a few stems, put them in a glass of water and they will start to grow roots in a matter of days. You can continue growing it in water or place it in a pot with soil. It’s easy to maintain and now you have an endless supply of fresh basil. It looks great in salads, it provides freshness and great flavor. You can cut the leaves and add them to your pasta and of course, add some fresh leaves to your homemade pizza to feel like you are dining in a real Italian restaurant.
2. chives
Chives are very easy to grow in a pot, they will brighten up your kitchen and you can use kitchen shears to cut everything you want for the garnish. They are great with mashed potatoes, they will brighten up any sandwich, add them to your bagel with cream cheese. In fact, chives are amazing to mix into sauces to add a little flavor.
3. Oregano
Who doesn’t love oregano? Most of us associate the smell and taste with pizza, but we are used to it being dry. You probably have a small container of dried oregano in your pantry, and people usually just sprinkle it on pizza or add it to seasonings when cooking meat. However, when it is fresh, the flavor is much more noticeable and while it may be a little strong to eat in salads, you can definitely add some fresh leaves when cooking meat or sautéing vegetables and mushrooms and it will give a fun touch to your dish. But don’t overdo it, a little is enough.
4. Rosemary
Fresh rosemary is a great herb to use in summer. You’ll be surprised how this herb can make a homemade cocktail or lemonade feel elegant and something you’d pay $10 for at a downtown bar. You can add a branch to the pot when cooking meat or making roast potatoes and it will add great flavor, and then you can take it out before serving. Rosemary is actually quite chewy, so you don’t have to worry about it spilling all over the dish. You can also put it in your bottle of olive oil to infuse it with rosemary and then garnish salads with it.
5. dill
Dill is a very underrated herb. It is very easy to grow and is actually great for adding freshness to any dish. You can add it to summer soups and stews, it’s great with potatoes, you can chop it into your salad dressing and mix it into sauces to provide a nice fresh flavor. It will also brighten up buttery dishes and eliminate that greasy taste.
6. mint
And of course, no list of summer herbs is complete without mint. We would go so far as to say that it is a summer staple and a must-have for everyone. You can add it to lemonades or just to flavor water, it’s an obvious must for summer cocktails like mojitos, you can add it to salads and fruit dishes, and it works great when mixed with dressings or sauces.
