Welcome to our newest blog series – The Thrifty Kitchen! As we all know, one trip to the grocery store is enough to break the bank. Buying groceries is still cheaper than eating out, but even spending $100 at the grocery store won’t get you very far these days.
We are here to help you save money by preserving food, wasting less, and shopping smarter. Cutting coupons and joining your grocery store’s rewards program always helps, but in our opinion, most of our money goes down the drain when we toss all the food we don’t end up eating.
Have you ever bought a huge bunch of cilantro even though your recipe only calls for a 1 tsp? Or tried your hand at growing your own basil, only to end up with a ton and not knowing how to use it? Herb bombs are a fun way to preserve your herbs for later use!
What is an Herb Bomb?
An herb bomb is similar to an ice cube – but with WAY more flavor. When you place your leftover herbs + an oil of your choice in the food processor, you can pour the liquid in an ice cube tray (or a muffin tin for large amounts), freeze them, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag, and then use them in your recipes later. Genius!
How Do You Use an Herb Bomb?
When it comes time to using the herb bomb, you simply let them thaw, and you’re good to go!
What Kind of Recipes Go with Herb Bombs?
You can use them to add more flavor to soups, or melt a few and use as a salad dressing. Add them to pastas and veggies for a burst of flavor, or even on meats and poultry. The options are truly endless.
How to Make an Herb Bomb
Ingredients & Tools
- Fresh herbs (e.g., basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, parsley, etc.)
- Ice cube tray
- Water, olive oil, or broth (depending on usage. You can even try coconut water to make a mint/coconut bomb for cocktails!)
Steps
-
Chop the Herbs
- Wash and dry the herbs.
- Roughly chop them or keep them whole for a more decorative look.
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Fill the Ice Cube Tray
- Place about 1-2 teaspoons of herbs into each section of the tray. If you have a lot of herbs, try using a muffin tin.
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Add Liquid
- For Cooking: Use olive oil or broth to freeze herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano for easy use in soups, stews, and sautés.
- For Drinks: Use water for herbs like mint, basil, or lavender to add to teas, cocktails, or lemonades.
-
Freeze
- Place the tray in the freezer and let it freeze completely (about 4-6 hours or overnight).
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Store
- Once frozen, pop out the cubes and store them in a labeled freezer bag or airtight container.
Usage Ideas
- Drop a basil or mint cube into a cocktail or iced tea.
- Use a thyme or rosemary oil cube for sautéing veggies or meats.
- Add a cilantro or parsley broth cube into soups or sauces for extra flavor.
What are Some Great Herb Bomb Combinations?
For all of these combos, just toss the herbs + your choice of liquid into the food processor and pulse until smooth.
Herb Bomb Basic
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 3-6 tbsp. herbs of choice
Mexican Flavor Bomb
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
- 2 tbsp. chopped garlic
- 2 tbsp. fresh chopped oregano
Mediterranean Magic Bomb
- 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
- 2 tbsp. chopped fresh oregano
- 2 tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
Coconut Cooler Bomb
- 2 tbsp. coconut water
- 3-6 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
How do you plan on making herb bombs? Let us know your ideas in the comments!
