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    Home » How To & Kitchen Basics » How To Preserve Thyme

    Published: Oct 14, 2010 · Modified: May 24, 2025 by Zerrin & Yusuf

    How To Preserve Thyme

    Jump to Recipe

    Learn how to preserve thyme and use it whenever you need. Preserving fresh thyme in olive oil is way easier than you think. It makes a great salad when you squeeze lemon on it. You can have it with meat dishes or at breakfast.

    We can keep this preserved thyme fresh in olive oil for a long time. So how do we use it? It is perfect as a breakfast food or mezze when you dip some pide bread in it.

    Preserving Fresh Thyme | giverecipe.com

    We have this fresh thyme at breakfast. Does it sound weird? But it goes perfect with a slice of bread topped with cheese or green olives. Also, you know there are always sliced tomatoes and cucumbers at a typical Turkish breakfast and this preserved thyme makes a perfect touch to these veggies. You can even use it as an addition to your salads, especially with meat or chicken dishes.

    Preserving Fresh Thyme | giverecipe.com

    Fresh thyme is an amazing herb that we love to use when making chicken or meat dishes. So we always have some in our kitchen. Probably most of you use fresh thyme for the same purpose: Flavoring dishes.

    How about using fresh thyme as one of the main ingredients? When preserved in olive oil, fresh thyme can be eaten as a side dish or condiment. The combination of olive oil and fresh thyme is unbeliavable! We love to make mini sandwiches with some preserved fresh thyme and cheese as a snack.

    Fresh Thyme Preserved In Olive Oil

    First, wash the fresh thyme very well and let it dry completely on some paper towel.

    Second, cut it into bite size pieces.

    Third, transfer the thyme in a small glass jar and pour extra virgin olive oil over it. Make sure all the thyme leaves that are close to the top are coated with olive oil.

    Finally, thighten the jar lid and keep this in the fridge up to a month.

    As always: If you make this recipe, let us know what you think by rating it and leaving a comment below. And post a pic on Instagram too—tag @give_recipe so we can see!

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    📖 Recipe

    Preserving Fresh Thyme | giverecipe.com
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    Preserving Fresh Thyme

    By Zerrin & Yusuf
    Fresh thyme with olive oil.
    Yields: 1
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    PREP 15 minutes mins
    TOTAL 15 minutes mins

    INGREDIENTS
      

    • 1 cup fresh thyme
    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Wash thyme well and dry it until it losts wetness. Separate it into bite-sized pieces.
    • Put them in a jar and pour extra virgin olive oil onto them until it covers their surface.
    • Place the lid on jar and tighten it. That’s it!
    • Take some fresh thyme from jar whenever you want. Sprinkle little salt and squeeze lemon on it before serving.
    • Don’t add these to the jar as they may cause decay.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 1000kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 3gFat: 109gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 79gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 275mgFiber: 6gVitamin A: 2138IUVitamin C: 72mgCalcium: 183mgIron: 8mg

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    ADDITIONAL INFO

    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Turkish
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    1. Dimah says

      October 16, 2010 at 5:58 am

      This looks wonderful, great idea!

      Reply
    2. Corina says

      October 16, 2010 at 12:34 am

      This sounds like a great way to preserve thyme. I might not have it for breakfast but it would be great with a lunchtime salad.

      Reply
    3. Jennifer says

      October 15, 2010 at 10:38 am

      I have long infused oil with herbs to cook with but I never thought use the herbs themselves. I"m crying a little for all those herbs that I could have used! Great post.

      Reply
    4. Belinda @zomppa says

      October 15, 2010 at 5:10 am

      I tried doing lavender before - so I like this method.

      Reply
    5. Faith says

      October 15, 2010 at 4:39 am

      This is such a great way to preserve fresh herbs! I think it sounds like a fantastic breakfast with bread, lebaneh, olives, and tea. I can imagine the oil would be delicious drizzled on salads!

      Reply
    6. Cherine says

      October 14, 2010 at 11:12 pm

      I love the preserved thyme with labneh or cheese. I used to buy it in Lebanon!!

      Reply
    7. Carol Egbert says

      October 15, 2010 at 9:35 am

      This is very interesting. I loved my holiday in Turkey and enjoyed amazing food.

      Reply
    8. tasteofbeirut says

      October 14, 2010 at 6:10 pm

      amazing! we do the same in Lebanon. love that zaatar and your mom in law sounds like a remarkable woman!

      Reply
    9. The Klutzy Cook says

      October 14, 2010 at 5:13 pm

      I love this idea - my thyme is going ballistic at the moment so this is a perfect solution to make the most of it. Thanks.

      Reply
    10. Gera@SweetsFoodsBlog says

      October 14, 2010 at 5:04 pm

      Thyme at breakfast, this is weird but as you mention this can suit very well with vegs! In that way you can preserve the freshness of them 🙂

      Cheers,

      Gera

      Reply
    11. Monet says

      October 14, 2010 at 4:16 pm

      Wow! This sounds amazing. I would love to put some of this on some freshly baked bread with a bit of cheese in the morning. You had me drooling! And what a neat organization...she must love being a part of it. Thank you for sharing this with me...I would have never thought to preserve herbs like this.

      Reply
    12. pegasuslegend says

      October 14, 2010 at 2:44 pm

      wow~

      Reply
    13. lisaiscooking says

      October 14, 2010 at 12:44 pm

      TEMA sounds like a great organization. The preserved thyme sounds delicious with bread and cheese! I bet the oil from jar would be great for cooking too.

      Reply
    14. Angela FRS says

      October 14, 2010 at 3:26 pm

      I will have to try this--sounds good!

      Reply
    15. Jason's BBQ Adventures says

      October 14, 2010 at 2:29 pm

      Fascinating. Do you do this with other herbs?

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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