There’s something delightfully calming about a fresh lemon balm recipe in the summertime. This fragrant herb, part of the mint family, brings a bright, citrusy note to teas, syrups, and even light desserts. Whether you grow it yourself or grab a bundle at the market, lemon balm is a versatile, easy-to-use plant that adds flavor and wellness to your everyday kitchen. In this article, you’ll discover how to prepare lemon balm the simple way, how it supports digestion and relaxation, and how to use it in drinks, dressings, and more right from Nour’s Mediterranean-inspired home kitchen.
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Lemon Balm Recipe You’ll Love: Calming, Fresh, and Easy to Make
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup syrup 1x
Description
A calming and versatile lemon balm recipe that transforms this fragrant herb into a lightly sweet syrup. Perfect for teas, drinks, desserts, and more.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh lemon balm leaves
1 cup water
1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)
Optional: lemon zest
Instructions
1. Rinse lemon balm leaves and tear gently to release oils.
2. In a saucepan, combine lemon balm and water.
3. Bring to a simmer, then remove from heat and steep 15–20 minutes.
4. Strain out the leaves and stir in honey while still warm.
5. Let cool and transfer to a clean glass jar.
6. Store in fridge up to 2 weeks.
Notes
You can use this syrup to flavor tea, drizzle over yogurt, or blend into vinaigrettes. Add lemon zest during steeping for extra citrus flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Herbal Recipes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tbsp
- Calories: 30
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
How Lemon Balm Became My Go-To Summer Herb
Discovering lemon balm in my kitchen garden
I still remember the first time I brushed past lemon balm in my little kitchen garden. Its scent stopped me cold a soft lemony fragrance with a hint of mint. I planted it on a whim one spring, right between my rosemary and lavender, not expecting much. But by June, it had taken off, lush and wild. I began clipping sprigs for tea, tucking leaves into fresh fruit salads, even muddling them into sparkling water. A lemon balm recipe quickly became a regular part of my summer rhythm.
It felt like a quiet kind of magic one of those ingredients you never knew you needed until it’s everywhere in your kitchen. That’s what this blog is about. Nourishing dishes made from real, seasonal ingredients that bring both comfort and joy. Lemon balm does just that, especially when you keep things simple. My favorite lemon balm recipe starts as a fresh herbal infusion, then becomes a syrup or base for salad dressings and desserts. It’s endlessly flexible.
Why lemon balm is more than just a garnish
Lemon balm isn’t just for show. It’s a traditional Mediterranean herb used for its calming effects and digestive benefits. And it tastes as gentle as it feels soft lemon, mild mint, just the right whisper of freshness. That makes it ideal for herbal teas, but it also plays beautifully in vinaigrettes, glazes, and even light desserts. You can mix it into a chia seed pudding with yogurt for an herbal twist or pair it with pickled beets to add complexity.
At Recipes To Do Now, where seasonal and simple meet, I love using lemon balm to enhance naturally sweet or subtly tangy dishes. You’ll find that this lemon balm recipe fits right into your summer kitchen, no fuss or frills just a warm pot of flavor and a little green joy. lemon balm recipe
Easy Ways to Prepare Lemon Balm at Home
Simple methods for brewing, steeping, and preserving
Fresh lemon balm is gentle and forgiving it doesn’t need much fuss. Start with a basic infusion: rinse a handful of leaves, tear them gently to release their oils, and steep in hot water for 5–10 minutes. This makes a soothing tea that’s both calming and refreshing. You can drink it warm or chill it over ice with a slice of lemon. For a more concentrated version, simmer the leaves in water and honey to create a lemon balm syrup. This syrup can be drizzled over chia seed pudding with yogurt or stirred into sparkling water. lemon balm recipe
Preserving is just as easy. You can dry lemon balm leaves by tying small bunches and hanging them upside down in a cool place. Once crisp, store them in an airtight jar for teas or seasoning. For a seasonal twist, freeze chopped leaves in olive oil using ice cube trays perfect for adding herbal brightness to light summer pastas like the fusilli recipe I shared recently. lemon balm recipe
Combining lemon balm with other seasonal flavors
Lemon balm loves good company. It pairs beautifully with other summer herbs like mint, basil, or thyme. Use it to balance the tang of pickled beets or add it to fruit-based vinaigrettes for fresh salads. You can also blend it into smoothies or infuse it into dressings for grilled vegetables. In my kitchen, I often mix lemon balm into fresh fruit sauces and serve them over yogurt or pancakes, especially when I want something that feels comforting but still light. lemon balm recipe
For more ideas, check out how I use herbs in creative ways in recipes like the blue salt trick or visit the seasonal recipes section of the blog. Once you start using lemon balm this way, it becomes more than an herb it becomes part of your everyday kitchen rhythm.
Health Benefits and Common Uses of Lemon Balm
Soothing effects for body and mind
Lemon balm has been cherished for centuries for its calming properties. Traditionally used in Mediterranean herbal remedies, it’s known for supporting digestion, easing stress, and promoting restful sleep. That’s why I often reach for a lemon balm recipe in the late afternoon it’s a gentle way to slow down. The naturally occurring compounds in lemon balm, like rosmarinic acid, help reduce anxiety and may even support focus and clarity.
Many people ask, “Does lemon balm help lose belly fat?” While it’s not a magic cure, lemon balm tea is often included in wellness routines due to its digestive benefits and ability to reduce bloating. Combined with a fiber-rich snack like chia seed water, it’s a smart, simple habit that supports overall health. lemon balm recipe
Daily uses for drinks, skincare, and beyond
A lemon balm recipe doesn’t have to stay in your teacup. This herb works well in bath infusions, skin-soothing balms, and even bug bite remedies. But in the kitchen, it’s the little things that shine like adding it to salad dressings, blending it into herbal butters, or stirring it into honey for a sweet herbal glaze. I especially love it in hydrating drinks on warm days, like the chia seed water recipe I often revisit. lemon balm recipe
Lemon balm’s natural citrusy lift makes it a refreshing match for summer fruits, herbal syrups, and homemade sorbets. It also blends seamlessly into recipes like the lightly pickled beet salad, balancing sweet and tangy flavors. Whether you use it for wellness, flavor, or both, lemon balm is a versatile herb that invites creativity with very little effort.
Explore more herb-focused, calming recipes in the sweet treats section or dive into seasonal favorites where lemon balm naturally fits in. lemon balm recipe
One Lemon Balm Recipe to Make Right Now
Refreshing lemon balm syrup for teas, desserts, and more
If you’re new to lemon balm or looking for a go-to way to use up a bunch, this lemon balm syrup is it. It’s sweet, light, and incredibly versatile. You can stir it into tea, drizzle it over yogurt, or mix it into summer mocktails. Plus, it keeps well in the fridge for up to two weeks.
Here’s how I make it in my own kitchen simple and slow, just the way Nour likes it.
What you need:
- 1 cup fresh lemon balm leaves, rinsed
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup if preferred)
- Optional: a strip of lemon zest for brightness
In a small saucepan, combine the water and lemon balm. Gently bring it to a simmer, then turn off the heat and let it steep, covered, for about 15–20 minutes. Strain out the leaves, then stir in the honey while the liquid is still warm. Let cool completely and pour into a clean glass jar. That’s it! lemon balm recipe
Use this syrup in everything from fruit salads to herbal chia puddings like the one in my yogurt and chia recipe. For a cooling summer drink, add a tablespoon to a glass of cold sparkling water, or swirl into your next batch of pickled beets for a surprising twist.
You can also experiment by blending lemon balm syrup with herbs like mint or lavender, both of which are stars in my seasonal recipes. Once you make this syrup, you’ll see how lemon balm moves from the garden to your everyday table with ease and grace.
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Conclusion: Let Lemon Balm Be Your Everyday Herb
Lemon balm is more than a kitchen herb it’s a quiet comfort, a fragrant reminder to slow down and savor the season. Whether you sip it in tea, stir it into syrup, or layer it into desserts, it brings a lightness that’s both soothing and flavorful. From my garden to your table, I hope this lemon balm recipe inspires you to cook simply and with joy. For more seasonal comfort dishes and Mediterranean flavor, browse the step-by-step guides or revisit sweet, calming creations that bring a little extra magic to your daily meals.
FAQs About Lemon Balm Recipe
What do you make with lemon balm?
Lemon balm is incredibly versatile. You can make tea, syrup, infused water, salad dressings, or even calming herbal tinctures. It also pairs beautifully with fruits in desserts and can be added to dishes like chia seed pudding for a fragrant, refreshing twist. lemon balm recipe
Does lemon balm help lose belly fat?
While lemon balm isn’t a weight-loss miracle, it can support digestion and reduce bloating, which may help your belly feel flatter. Drinking it as a tea or incorporating it into light meals with ingredients like those in chia seed water can complement a healthy routine.
What is lemon balm best used for?
Lemon balm is best known for its calming properties and digestive support. It’s commonly used to make herbal teas, syrups, and natural remedies. It also shines in light vinaigrettes, fruit salads, and even baked goods when you want a citrusy-herbal note.
How is lemon balm prepared?
It’s easy to prepare. Use it fresh in infusions by steeping in hot water or cooking down with honey for syrup. You can also dry the leaves for long-term storage or freeze them in olive oil cubes to use later in savory dishes or herb sauces.