Elevate Your Summer BBQ with Herbal Blends from the Lombard Farmers Market

Nothing says summer quite like the smoky aroma of food sizzling on the grill. Whether you're a weekend grill master or a casual backyard cook, using the right herbal blends can take your barbecue to the next level. At BackyardPatch Herbs, we’ve crafted blends designed to enhance meats, vegetables, and even grilled fruit, all while keeping things fresh and flavorful.

And what better place to grab the freshest ingredients than your local Farmers Market? Pair our Grilled Meat Rub, Paprika Chicken Rub, and BBQ Spice Blend with market-fresh produce and proteins for an unforgettable outdoor feast!

Grilling with Herbs: The Flavor Boost You Need

Herbs add depth, complexity, and balance to your grilling. Unlike traditional salt-heavy seasonings, our blends focus on fresh, homegrown flavors that complement rather than overpower.

🌿 Grilled Meat Rub – A balanced blend of garlic, onion, thyme, and other aromatic herbs that bring out the natural richness in beef, pork, and even portobello mushrooms.

🌶️ Paprika ChickenRub – A smoky, slightly spicy mix featuring paprika, rosemary, and a hint of citrus, perfect for chicken, turkey, and even shrimp skewers.

🔥 BBQ Spice Blend – The ultimate all-purpose BBQ seasoning with a savory, slightly sweet profile—ideal for ribs, burgers, or roasted corn on the cob.

Farmers Market-Inspired Grilled Recipe

Try this Herb-Rubbed Grilled Chicken with Summer Veggies, featuring our Paprika Chicken Rub!

Ingredients:

• 
  2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
  
• 2 tbsp Paprika Chicken Rub
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 ear of corn, cut into rounds
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp BBQ Spice Blend

Coat the chicken with olive oil and Paprika Chicken Rub. Let marinate for 30 minutes. Toss the zucchini and peppers in olive oil and BBQ Spice Blend. Grill the chicken for 6-8 minutes per side until fully cooked. Grill the veggies and corn for 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Serve hot and enjoy the herbal-infused goodness!

Come See us in Person

This summer, stop by our local Farmers Market, if you are in Lombard, Illinois Tuesday afternoon from 3 to 7 PM and pick up your favorite Backyard Patch Herbs blends to make your grilling season unforgettable!

Grilled Spiced Broccoli - Monthly recipe - Meat less Monday

Adapted from a 2016 article in Grill it Bookazine this recipe gives you a great side dish, or a tasty main dish base.

Grilled Spiced Broccoli (Serves 6)

2 bunches broccoli

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup tarragon or chive blossom vinegar
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1 teaspoon dried chives

1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon pepper 

Cut each bunch of broccoli into six pieces. In a 6-qt. stockpot, place a steamer basket over 1 in. of water. Place broccoli in basket. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer; steam, covered, 4-6 minutes or until crisp-tender. In a large bowl, whisk marinade ingredients until blended. Add broccoli; gently toss to coat. Let stand, covered, 15 minutes. 

Drain broccoli, reserving marinade. Grill broccoli, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat 6-8 minutes or until broccoli is tender, turning once. If desired, serve with reserved marinade. Combine with cooked black or white beans for a high protein main dish.

Note: you can substitute Cider Vinegar for the herbal vinegar in this recipe.

To find any recipe featured this month - use the search box and type: GrillJul

To find any theme recipe from this year type: recipe2018

For 2018 the monthly recipe themes will be:

   January - Chicken Soup (ChickJan)
   February - Beef Stew (StewFeb)
   March - Jambalaya (JambMar)
   May - Ham and Shrimp Dishes (ShrHamMay)
   June - Bread recipes (BreadJun)
   July - Grilling (GrillJul)
   August- Garden Delights 
   September - Salsa, Corn and Jelly 
   October - Squash Dishes 
   November - Pumpkin Recipes
   December - Herbal Cocktails 

Grilling Theme for recipes in July - Basil Grilled Chicken

Pinch Basil at the point two leaves have two small leaves growing above them

You should be pinching your Basil plants to get them to become bushier and provide more leaves for the remainder of the growing season. To encourage you to do so we have a great recipe.  You need to get 3/8 cup of basil leaves together for the recipe, which can be a mix of several kinds of Basil pinches, like lemon, purple, sweet or others like Thai or cinnamon. The recipe is easy and perfect for grilling out on the deck in the warm summer sun.

Basil Grilled Chicken (serves 4)

3/4 tsp. coarsely ground pepper
4 chicken breasts, skin removed

Basting Butter:

1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Basil Butter:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 Tbls. minced fresh basil
2 Tbls. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

Press 3/4 tsp. pepper into meaty side of chicken. Mix 1/3 cup melted butter and 1/4 cup chopped basil in bowl. Brush chicken lightly with some of the mixture. Grill chicken over medium coals for 8 to 10 minutes per side or until cooked through, basting frequently with remaining melted butter mixture. Garnish with fresh basil sprigs and serve with basil butter.

For the basil butter, mix butter, basil, cheese, garlic powder, salt and pepper in small mixer bowl. Beat at low speed until blended and smooth. Remove to serving bowl and set aside.

This recipe like so many others we have been sharing this year is on a theme.  For July the theme is Grilling.

To find any recipe featured this month - use the search box and type: GrillJul

To find any theme recipe from this year type: recipe2018

For 2018 the monthly recipe themes will be:

   January - Chicken Soup (ChickJan)

   February - Beef Stew (StewFeb)

   March - Jambalaya (JambMar)

   May - Ham and Shrimp Dishes (ShrHamMay)

   June - Bread recipes (BreadJun)

   July - Grilling (GrillJul)

   August- Garden Delights

   September - Salsa, Corn and Jelly

   October - Squash Dishes

   November - Pumpkin Recipes

   December - Herbal Cocktails