Homemade herbes de Provence is a staple in my kitchen. This vibrant seasoning blend, so common in the south of France, embodies my passion for French cuisine. I find myself adding it to almost every dish!
Growing up in a household influenced by my mom’s French heritage, I developed an appreciation for classic dishes like boeuf bourguignon and pâté. While I’m no expert chef, I love weaving French recipes into our family meals.
Many people perceive French cooking as intricate or daunting, yet it’s often simpler than it appears.
The French Approach to Picky Eaters
The French food culture fascinates me—children in France often have a broad palate. This offers valuable lessons for us as parents on how to encourage a positive relationship with food in our kids. I even included insights on this topic in my Wellness Mama Cookbook!
Raising adventurous eaters revolves around introducing varied, balanced flavors. This seasoning blend plays a significant role in that journey.
What Exactly is Herbs de Provence?
This iconic blend originated in the Provence region of France, crafted from herbs that flourish there. The classic mix typically includes summer savory, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary. Some versions even introduce lavender, fennel, or orange zest. Store-bought varieties often feature lavender and additional herbs as well.
Besides tasting delightful, these herbs offer impressive antimicrobial benefits, supporting immune function. For instance, rosemary is linked with memory enhancement, thyme supports lung health, and marjoram is known for soothing nervous tension. Lavender can alleviate stress, orange zest brings positivity, and fennel aids digestion. Together, these elements create a flavorful and beneficial spice blend.
Herbs de Provence vs. Italian Seasoning
While I cherish both blends, they differ significantly. Italian seasoning often contains thyme and rosemary as well but typically includes bold oregano and basil. Most versions lack marjoram or summer savory—and definitely don’t have lavender!
If you’re in need of a substitute for herbes de Provence, a simple recipe consists of summer savory, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary.
How to Prepare Herbs de Provence
Making this blend is straightforward but involves an extra step compared to most spice mixes I create. Instead of merely combining herbs in a jar, I usually process coarser ingredients first, like fennel seeds or lavender buds. This prep makes them easier to incorporate into dishes, and freshly ground herbs enhance the aroma and flavor significantly. Grinding or chopping releases the herbs’ oils, resulting in a fresher taste.
You might wonder what herbes de Provence really brings to your dishes. The answer? Much more than you’d expect!
Utilizing This Homemade Seasoning
Herbes de Provence is incredibly adaptable. Its flavor profile is bold, earthy, with subtle floral notes. It complements nearly all types of meat, particularly pork and chicken, and pairs beautifully with various fish and seafood dishes. I frequently include it in homemade soups and broths.
A favorite of ours is to mix this blend into softened grass-fed butter, making it a perfect topping for vegetables, crusty sourdough bread, or even cauliflower rice. It also enhances breakfast dishes—like my beloved sous vide egg bites and homemade breakfast sausage.
Consider adding it to a roast chicken before cooking. Because the herbs are chunkier and not fine, they integrate best at the onset of cooking, allowing the flavors to infuse thoroughly. This blend shines on roasted veggies or potatoes as well.
On top of all its advantages, this mix not only boasts health benefits and fantastic taste, but it fills your kitchen with wonderful aromas too.
While you can buy this blend at the store, creating your own herbes de Provence—and other spice blends—saves both time and money. You gain confidence knowing precisely how fresh your ingredients are! Plus, it’s a delightful and simple kitchen project where children can lend a helping hand.
Homemade Herbs de Provence Recipe
Homemade herbs de Provence combines herbs like thyme and marjoram with lavender, fennel, and orange zest for a savory and flavorful spice blend.
- Use a mortar and pestle or a food processor to lightly grind any herbs that are whole, such as the rosemary, lavender flowers, or fennel. The herbs should be coarse, not finely ground.
- If you are zesting the orange yourself, remove the zest of one organic orange and dry it in an oven on lowest setting or a dehydrator until completely dry.
- Combine all ingredients in a jar or bowl and mix.
- Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Herbs de Provence Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 tsp)
Calories 9
Calories from Fat 2
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.2g0%
Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.04g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.01g
Sodium 2mg0%
Potassium 28mg1%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 0.04g0%
Protein 0.3g1%
Vitamin A 131IU3%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
- Mix a teaspoon or two of this flavorful herb blend into softened butter for topping vegetables, seasoning chicken or seafood, or using to create homemade breakfast sausage.
- The total yield for this recipe is about 1/2 cup plus 2 teaspoons of herbs de Provence.
Alternate Herbs de Provence Recipe
I often purchase bulk herbs online, though finding summer savory can be challenging in local stores. If you’re looking for a recipe without summer savory or want to experiment with something new, here’s another blend to try. Similar to the previous recipe, simply process, mix, and store. All ingredients should be dried:
- 2 TBSP thyme
- 2 TBSP rosemary
- 1 TBSP basil
- 1 TBSP oregano
- 1 TBSP summer savory (optional but traditional)
- 1 tsp marjoram (optional)
- 1 tsp lavender buds (optional)
Have you tried using herbes de Provence? What French flavors resonate with you?
