Many of us in the Southwest grow rosemary because it is a relatively low-water user that blooms in winter to feed the bees. But rosemary can become rampant! It will easily overtake a space. Yes, it is related to mint – which will also run amok given half a chance. Gardening With Soule advocates dividing and pruning your rosemary in fall – so let’s get it done for Thanksgiving!
Warning
Do not do all 13 of these in one meal! That would be way over the top! We present these 13 ideas to give you a few ways to use any herbal bounty you might have.
No Rosemary?
Go out and harvest some garlic chives! You can use them in almost every one of these ideas below. Well, maybe not the drinks.
Cook With Rosemary
1. Marinade / Brine / Dry Rub For Turkey
Marinating meat with rosemary is a game changer – it adds real depth to the flavor profile. The herb’s robust flavor complements turkey beautifully, and personally I prefer it over it’s cousin sage. Sage can be a tad bitter.
2. Add To Stuffing
I’m going to diss sage again. I far and away prefer rosemary in my stuffing. It adds an aromatic touch to stuffing, yes even cornbread stuffing. The earthy flavor complements the turkey very nicely.
3. Add to the Gravy
I do watch various cooking episodes on TikTok and YouTube. One featured making the Thanksgiving gravy by browning the otherwise discarded turkey neck in butter along with various herbs (they used onion and garlic). I’m going to toss a few sprigs of rosemary in there! Once browned, add the flour and milk, and put the pan on a back burner to simmer for an hour or more. No more last minute making of gravy. No more lumps!
4. Fresh Rosemary Roasted Vegetables
We don’t like those tired old green beans, instead we do a tray of roasted roots. Usually its baby potatoes, a few yams, some chuks of onion, beets maybe, and turnips cut small. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with herbs, and bake ‘em up. I don’t recall the first time I tossed fresh rosemary onto the pan – but it was a game changer! It’s amazing how something so simple can elevate a dish.
5. Add To Soups For Extra Flavor
If you have serve a clear soup to start the meal, enhancing your soup and with rosemary is a simple yet effective way to boost flavor. The rosemary oils add so much to a clear broth. If you warm the soup with rosemary it infuses the broth, creating a comforting and flavorful dish. Or just add a tiny tip of a sprig to each bowl.
6. Rosemary Bread or Rolls
If you bake your own bread or rolls for the festivities, rosemary can make it a game changer. Dice your rosemary well and mix it into your dough once you have it ready to proof.
When the bread or rolls come out of the oven, brush with some rosemary butter (below).
7. Add to Grill for Subtle Flavor
We torment our neighbors with the aroma of rosemary wafting through the air as we grill. Placing rosemary sprigs on hot coals or a hot grill is a simple way to enhance the barbecue experience. As the sprigs heat, they release a fragrant smoke that helps infuse the turkey that is on the grill with that subtle flavor.
Serve With Rosemary
8. Rosemary Butter
Have you ever made herb butter? It’s so easy! Simply blend softened butter with chopped rosemary, and maybe a touch of garlic chives. The rosemary infuses the butter with its distinctive aroma, enhancing everything it touches.
Use this herbed butter to baste your turkey as it cooks, or your bread or dinner rolls as they come out of the oven. Or, chill the butter into logs and have it on the table to go with the meal.
Drink Your Rosemary
9. Rosemary Ice Cubes
Creating rosemary ice cubes is a fun way to add flavor to drinks. Simply place rosemary sprigs in an ice cube tray, fill with water, and freeze.
Add the cubes to drinks for a refreshing twist. They’re perfect for cocktails, iced tea, cranberry cocktails, and even prickly pear lemonade (which I did not expect!). The rosemary slowly infuses the drink as the ice melts, offering a subtle herbal touch.
10. Infuse into Water
Simply place a few sprigs in the water pitcher. I offer one pitcher with and one without.
11. Rosemary Tea For A Herbal Boost
Stressed out and tired? Time for some herbal tea! Rosemary tea is a delightful way to enjoy the herb’s believed health benefits. Brewing it is simple. Just steep fresh or dried rosemary in hot water, and enjoy a soothing, aromatic tea. Rosemary tea is known for its potential to boost memory and concentration. It’s a wonderful alternative to traditional teas, offering a unique flavor profile.
Of course we add a touch of honey for sweetness.
Enliven Your Spaces
12. Use as a Natural Air Freshener
Using rosemary as a natural air freshener is an elegant way to scent your home. And seriously, our home needs all the elegance it can get.
Place rosemary sprigs in vases of water. Warning, the leaves drop very quickly so maybe don’t hanging bunches around. The herb’s natural oils release a pleasant scent, perfect for freshening up any space. It’s an eco-friendly alternative to chemical air fresheners, offering a simple solution for a fragrant home.
13. Repel Mosquitoes
It promises to be a pretty Thanksgiving day in Tucson this 2025, so we are planning on dining outdoors. There will be bouquets of rosemary! Rosemary is a natural alternative to chemical insect repellents. Not to mention, it adds a touch of greenery to my otherwise somewhat utilitarian decor.
So there you have it. Thirteen ways to use the rampant rosemary to help give thanks for the bounty. If you can, take a moment and let us know about how you savored the Southwest this Thanksgiving.
Enjoy!
And Enjoy More Honey Recipes
May we suggest our dandy little cookbook? Using Honey in New and Savory Ways offers 36 pages of tips for using honey in your cooking, as well as in all manner of dishes.
We hope you will help support some local Southwest folks!
From the review:
“Honey is for more than desserts and this book can help! Using honey in cooking savory dishes helps engage all your taste buds and adds a layer of added flavor to everyday dishes – plus holiday fare.”
Beekeeper? We offer volume discounts – because if you sell honey in local markets you might want to offer some of these books as well.
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Disclaimer
The authors of this website have researched the edibility of the materials we discuss, however, humans vary in their ability to tolerate different foods, drinks, and herbs. Individuals consuming flowers, plants, animals or derivatives mentioned in this blog do so entirely at their own risk. The authors on this site cannot be held responsible for any adverse reaction. In case of doubt please consult your medical practitioner.
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