Once you’ve tried this French herb blend, you’ll want a sprinkle on everything. Try this homemade herbes de Provence! This seasoning blend with herbs found in the Provence region of France is perfect for sprinkling on fish, veggies or stews. It adds adds an herby intrigue that’s irresistible! Alex and I instantly fell in love the first time we used it. It’s a fun project to make at home, and it makes beautiful gifts too.
What is herbes de Provence?
The term herbes de Provence originally just referred to herbs that grow in the Provence region in France, like savory, marjoram, rosemary, and thyme. It wasn’t until Julia Child grew in popularity that it started to be sold as a spice blend with that name in the 1970’s. So it’s not traditional to French cuisine: it’s more of a convenience for cooks to easily add that flair to recipes.
How to make herbes de Provence
For this recipe, we tried to stay as simple as possible while keeping the integrity of the herbes de Provence you’ll see at the store. There are a few unique ingredients traditional to this blend that we couldn’t leave out. So, you may have to seek out some new ingredients! Or we have some substitute ideas below. The ingredients in herbes de Provence include the following dried herbs:
Savory (or thyme or marjoram)BasilMarjoram (or oregano)TarragonThymeRosemaryLavender buds (culinary lavender)
What’s savory?
Savory is an herb that’s part of the mint family that grows in the Mediterranean. It’s pretty easy to find in the dried herbs section in your grocery store, but some stores may not have it. A good substitute is dried thyme or marjoram.
What’s marjoram?
Marjoram is another Mediterranean herb with a flavor that has pine and citrus notes. Again it’s pretty easy to find at your local grocery, but since it’s more unique some stores don’t carry it. A good substitute for marjoram is oregano.
Why lavender is used
Interestingly, lavender is only included in the herbes de Provence sold in North America. But it’s so common in this seasoning blend that we had to add it here. Feel free to omit if you prefer. Because it’s a scent that’s commonly used in soaps, some people complain that it tastes soapy. But used correctly, it brings a unique earthy flavor to dishes. Make sure to find dried culinary lavender: it’s typically sold in the dried herbs and spices section. (Not sure what you’d do with a jar of lavender? Use it in the filling for this Blueberry Crisp: it’s to die for!)
How long to store homemade herbs de Provence
You can store your homemade herbes de Provence in an airtight container for 6 months to 1 year. Of course, it’s best when it’s the freshest! Spices last in a cool, dry place for 8 months to 1 year. You can use this spice blend to add new life to spices that you’ve had for a while.
Ways to use herbs de Provence
There are lots of ways to use this French seasoning blend. Here are a few ideas for where to start:
This recipe is…
Vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, plant based, dairy free, naturally sweet, refined sugar free, low carb, and keto.
More seasoning blends
Making DIY seasoning mixes at home is so easy! They taste incredible—much better than storebought—and are fun gifts, too. Try all our seasoning blends (listed by style): 3 from 1 review
Mexican: Fajita Seasoning, Taco SeasoningMediterranean: Greek Seasoning, Italian SeasoningCajun: Cajun Seasoning, Blackened SeasoningAmerican: Old Bay Seasoning, Chili Seasoning, Everything Bagel Seasoning, Ranch SeasoningAll Purpose: Seasoned Salt, Seafood Seasoning, Salmon Seasoning
