Italian Seasoning

What is Italian seasoning? It’s a shortcut to adding extra aroma and flavor to nearly any dish. This homemade Italian seasoning recipe includes all the essential herbs and spices like basil, oregano, garlic and black pepper, but in balanced proportions so as not to overwhelm.

This recipe is just one of our favorite spice blends. With it, you can have fun exploring and discover more ways to re-create national and regional cuisines.

Ingredients for Italian Seasoning

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• Basil: Purple, Thai, lemon and sweet basil all have different flavor profiles. The most common and the one called for in this Italian seasoning recipe is sweet basil.
• Oregano: A member of the mint family, oregano is both peppery and savory. What’s more, it maintains its flavor very well, even when dried.
• Parsley: Fresh and grassy, parsley is a traditional herb used in all sorts of Mediterranean and Italian dishes.
• Garlic powder: While we like garlic powder for this recipe, feel free to substitute dried minced garlic if you prefer.
• Thyme: Also part of the mint family, thyme adds a lovely, earthy flavor and aroma.
• Rosemary: Bold, with a slightly pine-like flavor, rosemary has a way of brightening any dish it’s added to.
• Pepper: Black pepper isn’t added to every Italian seasoning recipe, but we enjoy the extra kick of flavor it brings.
• Crushed red pepper flakes: The touch of heat that red pepper flakes add also serves to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the ingredients

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, and mix them well.

Step 2: Grind the spices

Use a spice grinder, a mortar and pestle, or even the back of a spoon to grind the mixture into a coarse powder, working in batches as necessary.

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Italian Seasoning Variations

• Dehydrate your own herbs: For the freshest tasting results, you can buy (or grow) fresh herbs and either dry them in the oven or use a food dehydrator.
• Tweak the ingredients: Apart from the herbs in this Italian seasoning recipe, there are several other herbs you may consider. For example, some prefer marjoram over oregano, while others may want to toss in sage, fennel seeds or onion powder.

How to Store Italian Seasoning

We recommend storing your homemade Italian seasoning in an airtight container, especially one made of glass, because it’s less likely to leak air than plastic. Place it in a cool, dry place such as your pantry, and use it within six months.

Can I freeze homemade Italian seasoning?

To freeze this recipe, place the mix in an even layer in a freezer safe bag and lay it flat in the freezer. Stored like this, Italian seasoning can last up to one year. An alternate way to store this herb blend is to mix it with olive oil, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze them for up to six months.

Italian Seasoning Tips

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How do you use Italian seasoning?

There are many recipes to make with Italian seasoning, but some classic options include pasta bakes, roasted veg and herb-crusted chicken. If you’d like, you can even make several types of Italian seasoning, each with slightly different recipes so you can customize which blends you use.

What are the rules of Italian cooking?

Both Italian and Mediterranean recipes are known for a few signature features. First and foremost, it’s important to cook with fresh, quality ingredients. Also, dishes are traditionally prepared in a simple manner, emphasizing the “less is more” approach.

What are the three main Italian herbs?

Basil, oregano and thyme round out the most common herbs used in Italian cooking. That said, not all these herbs will necessarily be used at the same time, so while some dishes taste great with a shake of Italian seasoning, others may pair better with just one herb.