What Goes in Homemade Italian Seasoning? Make your own!
Italian seasoning gives your dishes a robust flavoring without overpowering the flavors presented pre-spicing. Typically, a good Italian seasoning contains the big five of herbs: basil, sage, oregano, thyme and rosemary. In the world of spices, this is the Kleenex, the Xerox, the home team go-to spice set for a wide variety of dishes. It is one of the most commonly purchased spice mixes, aside from taco seasoning of course. But what if you grow your own herbs, or are tired of spending all the money on plastic tubes of seasoning? Why, you make your own Italian seasoning, gosh and golly!
Tips for those with Herb Gardens
If you grow your own herbs, pay close attention to your harvesting times. Bear in mind that some herbs (as you may know) are more flavorful when fresh, and more subtle once dried. You will have to dry the herbs yourself, and prepare them for mixing.
So what exactly goes into a good Italian seasoning?
Well, the rule of thumb is that Italian seasoning is the ambassador of Italian cuisine. Italian cuisine tends toward hearty, savory dishes with lots of pasta and meat. The following list of herbs would do very well in an Italian seasoning:
- Basil
- Coriander
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Sage
- Marjoram
- Rosemary
The following could be added to the above, though should be added in much smaller quantities:
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Black Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
Preparing and Drying the Herbs
The most cost effective method I have found of acquiring herbs for this homemade Italian seasoning is to buy fresh herbs from a farmer’s market. Once you’ve collected your herbs, they need to be dried and stripped of stems, we just want the lovely leafy bits. To learn how to dry the herbs, click here.
