Herbes de Provence is a fragrant blend of dried herbs that originates from the Provence region of southeast France. It’s widely used in French and Mediterranean cooking to flavor meat, fish, vegetables, and more. But what exactly is herbes de Provence, and how do you use it to enhance your dishes?
What is Herbes de Provence?
Herbes de Provence is a mixture of dried herbs that commonly contains:
- Savory
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Lavender
- Basil
- Fennel seed
- Marjoram
- Rosemary
- Tarragon
The exact blend can vary, but these are the main herbs used. The mixture has an intense, aromatic flavor profile featuring notes of mint, licorice, citrus and woodiness. Some herb mixes also include bay leaf, sage, chervil or parsley.
Using a pre-made blend ensures you get the right herb proportions to create that signature Provence flavor. But you can also make your own by combining equal parts dried herbs.
How to Cook with Herbes de Provence
Here are some tips for using herbes de Provence to add flavor to your cooking:
1. Use it to season proteins
Sprinkle herbes de Provence over meat, fish and poultry before cooking. It pairs especially well with chicken, lamb, pork and salmon. The herbs complement the flavor of the protein without overpowering it. Use about 1 teaspoon per pound of protein.
2. Add it to vegetables
Toss chopped veggies with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of herbes de Provence. Roast them in the oven until caramelized and tender. It’s fantastic with potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, zucchini and more.
3. Make herb butter
Blend softened butter with minced garlic, lemon zest and herbes de Provence. Spread over bread, seafood or grilled meats for delicious flavor.
4. Mix into olive oil
Infuse olive oil with herbs de Provence to make a multipurpose condiment. Let the herb mix steep in warm oil for 1-2 hours, then strain. Drizzle over pasta, salads, bruschetta and more.
5. Sprinkle over eggs
Add herbes de Provence into an omelette or scrambled eggs right before cooking. Or top poached or fried eggs to make them extra tasty.
6. Use it in marinades and dressings
Whisk herbs de Provence into oil, vinegar and spices to marinate meats or make a bold vinaigrette for salad greens.
7. Add to soups and stews
Add a pinch while simmering soups, chili, braises and ragus to infuse them with flavor. It also pairs nicely with tomato-based dishes.
8. Bake it with bread
Knead a teaspoon or two of dried herbs into bread dough. Or brush bread with herb butter before baking. It’s fantastic with french bread, focaccia, rolls and more.
9. Season pasta
Toss hot pasta with olive oil, garlic, parsley and herbes de Provence. The blend nicely seasons dishes like spaghetti aglio e olio or tomato basil pasta.
10. Use in place of fines herbes
In French cooking, fines herbes refers to the herb blend of parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil. You can substitute herbes de Provence in equal amounts when fines herbes are called for.
How Much to Use
Start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per serving when adding herbes de Provence to a dish. You can add more to taste if you want a stronger herbal flavor. Keep in mind that the dried herbs will intensify as the dish cooks.
Use a light hand when seasoning meat so the flavor doesn’t become overbearing. Veggies and breads can handle more herbal flavor.
Herbes de Provence Substitutes
If you don’t have herbes de Provence, you can substitute an equal amount of the following spice blends:
- Italian seasoning
- Poultry seasoning
- Fines herbes
For a DIY blend, combine:
- 2 tbsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp dried marjoram
- 2 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tbsp fennel seed
- 2 tsp dried savory
- 1 tsp dried lavender
Storing Herbes de Provence
Store dried herbes de Provence in an airtight container away from heat, light and moisture. Kept properly, the dried herbs will retain their flavor for up to a year past any expiration date on the packaging.
For maximum flavor, try to use within 6 months of opening. You can freeze herbes de Provence for longer storage, up to 1 year in the freezer.
Popular Herbes de Provence Recipes
Here are some delicious ways to use this aromatic herb blend in your cooking:
Herb Roasted Chicken
Coat a whole chicken with olive oil and liberally season with herbes de Provence inside and out. Roast until the skin is crispy and the juices run clear.
Provencal Roast Lamb
Rub a leg of lamb with herbes de Provence, garlic and olive oil. Roast until it reaches your desired doneness for a full-flavored main dish.
Grilled Vegetables
Toss zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, mushrooms and other vegetables with oil and herbes de Provence. Grill until tender and slightly charred.
Herb Focaccia
Make classic focaccia bread dough. Top with herbes de Provence, olive oil and salt before baking for a delicious bread.
Herb White Bean Soup
Sautee onion and garlic, then simmer with white beans, chicken broth, tomato paste and plenty of herbes de Provence for a cozy soup.
Provencal Potato Salad
Boil potatoes in heavily salted water until tender. Toss with olive oil, white wine vinegar, Dijon, and herbes de Provence while warm. Let cool before serving.
Conclusion
Herbes de Provence is one of those simple ingredients that can elevate the flavor of countless dishes. Use this fragrant herb blend to season meat, fish, veggies, egg dishes, beans, soups, breads and more. A little bit infuses food with the essence of Provence.
Look for high quality herbes de Provence made with organic herbs to get the best flavor. Store in an airtight container away from heat, light and moisture. Feel free to experiment with recipes until you find your favorite ways to use this iconic blend of French herbs.