Thyme is a great addition to any dish – from soups and stews, all the way down to meats. The combination of thyme with chicken will make you feel like they’re trying out new recipes for dinner!
It’s so easy too grow this herb in your garden because it goes well with most veggies or fruit trees as well.
Planting
Thyme is a great way to add an herbaceous flavor and scent in your garden. You can plant it during any season, but the best time for division would be spring when there’s less chance of frost damage.
Space plants 8-12 inches apart if you’re growing them solo or between different types of vegetables–thyme will do well with tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplants! You can also grow it in containers both indoors and outdoors.
Thyme is a great addition to your garden! It can be planted as an annual or perennial. To keep thyme’s energy focused on the leaves, remove any small flowers after they finish blooming by hand so that you don’t damage this beautiful plant. Also, make sure you don’t over-water thyme as this may cause root rot.
Harvesting
Strip the thyme leaves from their stems and use fresh to add a Mediterranean twist to any dish. Harvest handfuls of these robust herb stalks, tie them together into small bundles with string or rubber bands, then hang upside down in an airy room to allow them to dry.
Once the leaves have dried out, crumble them and store in air-tight containers for up to 2 years.
Pests & Diseases
There are no significant problems when it comes to pests and diseases, except root rot if over-watered. Thyme is a great herb to have in your garden. It has an interesting, fragrant smell that can be added to many dishes and it’s easy enough for even beginners!
Uses for Thyme In The Kitchen
Here are 18 ways you can use thyme in the kitchen that will blow your mind!
1. Infused Vinegars and Oils
Making your own vinegar or oil infusion is so easy, it only takes minutes. You don’t need any specialized equipment and the infused flavors will make anything taste better!
2. Herbal Butter
Butter is great on its own, but adding some homegrown thyme will transform your meal. You can use it to liven up cooked meats and vegetables; pasta or potatoes for example!
3. Lemon Thyme Salt
You can add some homegrown thyme to your cooking. It’s great for livening up meats and vegetables, pasta, potatoes or breads!
4. Sauces and Soups
Thyme and lemon sea salt as a combo is the best way to add some flavor burst in your dish. You can cook with it as well, such as for grilled fish or on top of chicken soup!
The herb goes great with citrus like oranges, limes juice, garlic, peppercorn, butter, olive oil, white wine, Dijon mustard – just about anything really!
5. Salads and Salad Dressings
Try fresh or dried thyme in a simple mixed tomato salad; with lemon chicken for an extra zesty twist on your dinner table. There are many more amazing recipes featuring this tasty herb, so don’t forget to give them all a try!
6. Breads and Pastas
For a more flavor packed meal, why not try topping your plain home-baked breads and pasta with Kalamata olives or thyme?
7. Desserts
You’ll be surprised how many dishes you can make with thyme. Try it in blueberry soup, on a lemon cake of course, but also try adding some for an interesting twist to your favorite Greek yogurt!
8. Drinks
Thyme is a versatile herb that can be used in everything from refreshing detox waters to cocktail party favorites.
Quench your thirst with a uniquely tasting pear thyme cocktail, or one of our infused honey bourbon.
9. General Cooking
Thyme is one of the most versatile herbs! It can be used in both sweet and savory dishes.
I love to mix it with chicken or roast potatoes for dinner, but you’ll never know what amazing things people will come up with when they use thyme as their main ingredient–it’s really limitless!
10. Make a Healing Oil
You can make your own thyme oil! This is not only an easy and healthy trick for the kitchen, it’s also extremely beneficial.
To start, infuse dried thyme in olive or jojoba carrier oils; just allow it to soak at room temperature for 3-6 weeks before enjoying its many benefits as a potent essential oil.
11. Get rid of Pain
There are many benefits to using thyme as a natural remedy, and it can relieve the pain of menstrual cramps.
Rub some of that tasty, herby oil on your skin and you’ll be sure to feel better soon.
12. Boost Cognitive and Mental Health
Stress and anxiety can be reduced with the help of thyme oil, which also has other benefits like aiding memory. Add this natural stimulant to your diffuser to reduce stress!
13. Brew A Soothing Tea
This tea can act as an expectorant, clearing the lungs of congestion. It is also said to settle your stomach soothe sore throat and relieve aches and pains!
14. Enjoy Healthy Hair
Massage thyme oil into your scalp to kill the bacteria and fungi that contribute to various unhealthy scalp conditions like dandruff.
15. Get Glowing Skin
Thyme is a versatile herb that’s been used for centuries to fight acne, eczema and inflammation. Thyme essential oil or applied directly onto the skin as an antiseptic agent – this includes minor cuts wounds sunburns itching even razor burn!
16. Ease Congestion and Fight Mucus
Thyme is a great way to combat congestion and has been used for millennia. You can get the benefits of thyme with steam therapy by making your own bowl, just boil some water in an heat proof pan then add two spoonsful or dried herbs and let it steep.
Dampen a towel and lean over the pan. Breathe in for as long as you can before it becomes too uncomfortable, or else take short breaks every few minutes with deep belly breaths to avoid nausea.
17. Improve Oral Health
Thyme oil is a great way to keep your teeth and gums healthy! It has been shown as an effective treatment for tooth decay, plaque buildup, bad breath due its antiseptic properties.
18. Repel Bugs
To repel these pesky insects from your home, use thyme oil in a diffuser or add some drops to cotton balls and leave them around.