Herb Bombsare the best and easiest way to preserve fresh herbs. It’s a simple and easy trick to have in your pocket, especially when your herbs are in season.

Fresh herbs, olive oil and some frozen herb bombs on a wooden cutting board.

If your garden has gone wild, it’s the perfect time to preserve all those wonderful herbs as herb bombs. They pack so much more flavor than their dried counterparts, and are much easier to store than fresh herbs. Plus, you don’t have to worry about them going bad!

Herb bombs are wonderful additions inMeat Sauce, onHomemade Pizzaand to almost anysoup, stew, or chowder recipe.

Frozen herb bombs on a wooden cutting board with a bottle of olive oil in the background and some fresh herbs next to them.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easyway to preserve fresh herbs.
Reduce food waste.
Providemore flavorthan dried herbs.
Gluten-free,dairy-free, and vegan.

Recipe Ingredients

Fresh parsley:Or any fresh herb.
Garlic
Extra virgin olive oil: Can also use water or coconut milk depending on the herb you’re using.

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Popular Substitutions and Variations

What I love most about making herb bombs are all the combinations. The fresh herbs need a “carrier,” which can be olive oil, but it could be any number of liquids.

Olive oil and rosemary.
Lime juice and cilantro.
Coconut milk and Thai basil, cilantro, and chives.
Water and mint.

How to Make Herb Bombs

Step #1.Put all of the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk or stir until combined.
Step #2.Add the herb mixture to ice cube trays (should make about 16 herb bombs).
Step #3.Put the ice cube trays in the freezer until solid the herb bombs are solid.
Step #4.Remove the herb bombs from the ice cube trays and store in a freezer zipper bag for up to six months.

Recipe FAQs

What are the best herbs to save as in herb bombs?

Any fresh herb will work with this method. Be mindful of whether garlic will go well with the herb you’re preserving. For example, I would probably omit garlic from a mint herb bomb and a cilantro one.

Can I use these herb bombs as a garnish?

They are not recommended for garnishing though because the extra liquid won’t be welcome and freezing the herbs changes their texture so they don’t work well as a garnish.

What do I use the herb bombs in?

You can use these in place of fresh herbs in just about any recipe. You can add them to salad dressing, soups or just about any dish you would put fresh herbs in.

Close up of some herb bombs on a wooden cutting board with a bottle of olive oil in the background.

Expert Tips

Add one or two herb bombs into a soupfor an extra dose of flavor.
Make a quick salad dressingby melting a couple of oil-based herb bombs and then whisk in some vinegar or lemon juice, salt and pepper and you’re good to go.
You can use water instead of oil.Water would be particularly good with mint because then you could use it as an ice cube in club soda, lemonade, or water to add some refreshing flavor.