There’s something very comforting about being able to reach over into your potted plant to pluck a few leaves of herbs to add into your meal. Having an indoor herb garden can beautify your kitchen, and the herbs add a fresh element to your cooking. Growing the plants at home is also less expensive than repeatedly buying the herbs, and it’s a convenient way to make cooking fun.

So which plants should you add to the garden? The following versatile herbs are easy to grow indoors, are perfect in the following dishes, and even leave a fresh scent in your home when you’re not cooking.

Basil: Pizza and pasta sauces, spreads, dips, and soups

Try this Basil Cream Sauce recipe from allrecipes.com.

Bay leaves: Stews and soups (Cooking Tip #1: Remove and discard leaves prior to serving, as they can present a choking hazard and have a very potent flavor.)

Try this Bay Leaf Beat Soup recipe from epicurious.com.

Chervil: Bearnaise sauce, fish, potatoes, steamed carrots, eggs, and salads

Try this Roasted Halibut with Chervil Sauce recipe from myrecipes.com.

Mint: Tea, mixed drinks, and salads

Try this Linguine with Mint and Peas Pesto recipe from olivemagazine.com. (Cooking Tip #2: Don’t forget to use your fresh basil leaves.)

Chives: Eggs, soups, salads, potatoes, and as a garnish

Try this Twice-Baked Sour Cream and Chives Potatoes recipe from marthastewart.com.

Parsley: Soups, vegetables, salads, and as a garnish

Try this Roasted Carrots with Garlic Parsley Butter recipe from inspiredtaste.net.

Rosemary: Pork, chicken, lamb, fish

Try this Rosemary Pork Chops recipe from foodnetwork.com.

Thyme: Rice dishes, vegetables, bread

Try this Herbed Butter Rice with Rosemary and Thyme recipe from archanaskitchen.com. (Cooking Tip #3: Get your rosemary ready to roll!)

Oregano: Flatbreads, pasta and pizza sauces, meats, casseroles, and stews

Try this Zaatar Flatbread recipe from thekitchn.com. (Cooking Tip #4: Here’s a smart way to use your freshly grown and dried thyme.)