Spring Simmer Pot Recipe
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Easy to make and highly adaptable, this spring simmer pot recipe will fill your home with the refreshing scents of spring. This lavender and lemon simmer pot also allows plenty of room for creativity. Double up on the ingredients you love (an extra tablespoon of lavender, for instance, or an additional cinnamon stick) and omit anything you don’t have on hand!
Why Make This Spring Simmer Pot Recipe?
During the cold autumn and winter months, I love to make my own simmer pots, and often do so a few times per week. Stirred together in a stock pot and simmered on the stovetop, these homemade fragrance blends (basically a stovetop potpourri) offer a natural alternative to room sprays, candles, wax plug-ins, air fresheners, and other artificial scents.
Around the holiday season, my simmer pots often feature fall and winter-appropriate scents, like pumpkin spice, gingerbread, or cranberries. But as we head into warmer weather, I like using scent blends that allow me “think spring,” instead of making me feel like it’s still Christmastime. This one features blueberries, lemon, lavender, and mint. (Incidentally, this combo makes a refreshing beverage, too!) It smells absolutely heavenly, and could not be easier to make. Just fill a large pot with water, add the ingredients (I’ve included measurements, but you can “eyeball it” if you wish!) and simmer on the stovetop. Within minutes, you’ll be enjoying the lovely scents of spring.
Ingredients for Making a Spring-Inspired Simmer Pot
- Blueberries – For maximum fragrance (and the prettiest appearance) fresh blueberries work best. If you have some left over, save them to make a blueberry galette, blueberry sorbet, or homemade blueberry simple syrup.
- Lemon – You’ll need one fresh lemon, thinly sliced. If desired, you can use another citrus fruit, either alone or in addition to the lemon slices. You can also use the peels only, if you have some left after juicing the fruit for lemon curd or lemonade.
- Mint – I love the combination of ginger, lavender, blueberries and mint. If you don’t have fresh mint, replace it with another fresh herb, like basil or thyme. (Do not use dried herbs; they lack the scent of fresh herbs, and will make the pot look sludgy and messy instead of fresh and vibrantly green!) If you have too much mint to fit in the pot, save the rest to make my homemade mint simple syrup recipe.
- Ginger – You’ll need about 60 grams (a 4-inch piece) of fresh ginger. Since you won’t be eating your simmer pot, there is no need to peel the root—just slice it and toss it in the pot, peels and all.
- Lavender – If you’ve made my lavender sugar cubes or my lavender sugar cookies, you already have plenty of culinary dried lavender flowers on hand. If not, I suggest buying a bag. A bag lasts forever, and dried lavender is great for making everything from sachets to simple syrup.
- Cinnamon – I buy my cinnamon sticks in bulk. In addition to simmer pots, you’ll find that they come in handy for savory Indian dishes; desserts like poached peaches; or beverages such as mulled wine or hot buttered brandy. Make sure you’re using whole sticks for simmer pots; ground cinnamon won’t have the same effect.
Making This Recipe Your Own
- Change up the berries. Substitute blackberries, cherries, blackcurrant, or redcurrant in lieu of (or in addition to) the blueberries. Simmer pots are my favorite way to use “odds and ends” of berries left over from other recipes, or berries that have passed their peak freshness for eating.
- Use different herbs. I love the smell of mint (and since it grows quickly, this simmer pot makes a great way to use up all of that extra mint from your windowsill herb garden) but fresh basil would be equally nice for spring.
- Try different citrus. For a citrus simmer pot, substitute (or add) slices of orange, lime, or even grapefruit. (Or, just make my citrus simmer pot recipe instead!)
Spring Simmer Pot Recipe
- Total Time5 minutes
- Yield1 simmer pot 1x
A spring-inspired simmer pot recipe with lavender, blueberries, lemon, and mint.
Ingredients
50 grams fresh blueberries (about 1/3 cup)
1 whole lemon, sliced
15 grams fresh mint (generous handful, or about 1 cup leaves)
1 4-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces (about 60 grams)
1 6-inch cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
Instructions
Fill a large saucepan or stock pot about 3/4 full with water, allowing a few inches of space at the top to add your ingredients.
Add all ingredients to the pot.
Bring to a gentle simmer on the stovetop. Simmer over low heat for as long as desired, topping up with additional water as needed.
Notes
Do not leave simmer pot unattended on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Miscellaneous
- Method: Stovetop
Tools and Equipment
The only requirements for this recipe are a pot and a stovetop. I prefer to use a large, heavy-bottomed stock pot, but you can also use a medium saucepan. (I make smaller simmer pots all the time—just reduce the ingredients and the amount of water, so everything fits in the pan with a few inches of room at the top.)
Re-Using Your Simmer Pot
Simmer pots are particularly great because they’re easy to reuse. Once you’ve finished enjoying the fragrance, remove the pot from the stovetop and cover it with a lid. When it’s time for another hit of lavender, cinnamon, and lemon, just top up the pot with additional water, return to the stovetop, re-warm, and enjoy. I usually get at least two simmers out of each pot.
DIY Simmer Pot Safety
- Never leave the simmering pot unattended. I always stay in the same room so I can keep an eye on the stove, and can top up the simmer pot with additional water as needed. Don’t allow the pan to run dry, and avoid using it when there are kids or pets nearby.
- Simmer pots are meant to be smelled, not eaten! Although the ingredients are natural, I don’t recommend eating or drinking the contents of the pot. Once you’re done enjoying the scent created by your DIY simmer pot, use a mesh sieve to drain the liquid, then dispose of the water-logged fruit, herbs, and spices with your regular trash, or add them to the compost bin.
Other Simmer Pot Recipes You Might Enjoy
Lime and Thyme Simmer Pot
Rainbow Simmer Pot
Rose Simmer Pot
Vanilla Chai Simmer Pot
Star Anise and Orange Simmer Pot
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!
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