Herbes de Provence is a traditional French herb blend that makes everything taste better.
It is a spice blend that typically includes thyme, basil, bay leaves, rosemary, and lavender. This blend is commonly used to season chicken or fish dishes.
Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find in stores. If you’re in the mood for your favorite herb-infused dish but don’t have any Herbes de Provence on hand, try one of these five Herbes de Provence substitutes.
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5 Best Herbes de Provence Substitutes
The best substitutes for Herbes de Provence are Homemade Herbes de Provence and Herbes de la Garrigue. You can also use Italian Seasoning + Lavender Flowers, French fines herbes, and Italian sausage seasoning as sub for herbes de Provence in most recipes.
Keep on reading to know how you can bring the original flavoring with these handy substitutes for Herbes de Provence.
1. Homemade Herbes de Provence
The best way to substitute Herbes de Provence is by preparing it yourself at home. As I said, Herbs de Provence is made of some easy-to-find ingredients like thyme, marjoram, savory, rosemary, basil, and fennel seeds.
So, if you have got these ingredients available (or if you can find them in your local grocery store), I’d recommend preparing a DIY french spice blend.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried savory
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon dried lavender (optional)
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 crushed bay leaf
Steps to Make DIY Herbes de Provence
- Collect all the ingredients
- Grind rosemary and fennel seeds in a spice grinder
- Add the remaining herbs to the above mixture
And you’re done. Store the spice blend in an airtight container and use it in every recipe that asks for Herbs De Provence.
2. Italian Seasoning + Lavender Flowers
In place of Herbes de Provence, you can easily use Italian seasoning with lavender flowers. It is one of the closest Herbs De Provence alternative you can get.
Italian seasoning is an American spice invention that shares common ingredients like thyme and basil. It also contains marjoram, peppers, and other spices that give it a flavor profile similar to Herbes de Provence.
Along with Italian seasoning, you can use dried lavender flowers (try crushing them to get more flavor). Although lavender isn’t part of traditional Herbs de Provence, it is commonly used in commercial blends for its aroma.
Make sure to buy culinary lavender buds specifically made for cooking if you decide to use them.
3. Herbes de la Garrigue
Herbes de la Garrigue is a French herb blend that’s especially popular in Provence.
It contains dried lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, and bay leaf (and sometimes tarragon). Additionally, it may contain mint which adds a unique flavoring.
It has a strong taste and aroma and is typically used on grilled meats like lamb. You can prepare it yourself as well or get it from a French store.
Substitute equal amounts of Herbes de la Garrigue in your recipes in place of Herbes de Provence.
4. French Fines Herbes
French fines herbes is a blend of herbs used in French cuisine. It consists of thyme, marjoram, chervil, parsley, chive, and tarragon.
Most of these herbs are not typically present in Herbes de Provence but they do not overshadow the flavor profile. You can add other ingredients found in the original spice blend to French fines herbes to replicate the exact flavor.
If you’re preparing dishes with a long cooking time, I’d advise using dried herbs instead of fresh herbs.
5. Italian Sausage Seasoning
Italian sausage seasoning is, as the name suggests, used to season Italian sausages.
It has many herbs and spices including basil, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, etc. In fact, it shares most of the ingredients found in Herbes de Provence.
However, it also contains crushed red peppers and garlic which might not be a favorable choice for many. If you’re using this substitute, ensure to balance the usage of any other garlic in the dish, otherwise, it’ll overshadow other flavors.
What is Herbes de Provence?
Herbes de Provence is a French herb blend that contains many herbs and spices. It’s typically used to season chicken or fish alongside other ingredients such as olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, etc.
This blend not only adds flavor but also brings an amazing aroma to the dish. The greatest thing about this spice is its versatility.
You can use it in almost all kinds of dishes: from grilled meats and vegetables to rice, soup, and even salad dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herbes de Provence taste like?
The taste of Herbes de Provence varies depending on the specific herbs used, but it is generally a combination of earthy, floral, and herbaceous flavors.
It has a robust and warm taste with aromatic herbs like thyme, lavender flowers, rosemary, fennel seeds, etc., and spices like sage and bay leaf (don’t have it? here are substitutes for bay leaf you can use instead.)
The exact combination of herbs and spices used to prepare it varies from region to region so make sure to check the label when purchasing from a store.
Is Herbs de Provence same as Poultry Seasoning?
No, Herbs de Provence and Poultry Seasoning are two different spice blends.
While herbs de Provence is a French spice blend, Poultry Seasoning (also known as Herbs) comes from the English region. This seasoning has tarragon in it but not rosemary or thyme which are very prominent in Herbes de Provence.
Is Italian Seasoning same as Herbes de Provence?
No, they aren’t. It is important to note that Herbes de Provence is a French herb blend while Italian seasoning is American.
While the former has more herbs (nine in all), typically contains rosemary and thyme, and has a pungent flavor, Italian seasoning has only five herbs and has a milder flavor. However, since they share ingredients, they are considered interchangeable in most recipes.
Can you substitute Italian Seasoning for Herbes de Provence?
Yes, you can substitute Italian seasoning for Herbes de Provence.
The two spice blends are similar, but Herbes de Provence typically has a stronger flavor due to the addition of lavender. If substituting, use a 1:1 ratio.
Is Herbes de Provence difficult to find?
Herbes de Provence is one of the most common ingredients in French cuisine but it isn’t as popular elsewhere.
While you can easily find it in any store that sells spices, you may have to order online if none of the local stores in your area are carrying it.
Does Herbes de Provence expire?
Herbes de Provence typically has a shelf life between six to twelve months however it totally depends on the ingredients used to prepare it.
Each herb or spice has a different shelf life. You can find the expiration date on the box or bottle they come in. But do note that herbs and spices lose their flavor over time so I recommend trying to use them within a year of purchase.
How to store Herbes de Provence?
Store-bought or homemade, the best way to store Herbs de Provence is to keep it in an airtight container.
To keep it fresh-tasting and aromatic for longer, store it in a dark and cool place (a cabinet or drawer works best)
Final Words
Whether you want to replicate the flavor of Herbes de Provence, prepare a homemade spice blend, or simply want substitutes for it, this blog post will come in handy.
I hope you found the information above useful. What is a substitute for Herbes de Provence you use the most? Let me know in the comments.
And if you enjoyed this post, I’d appreciate it if you could help spread the word by sharing it.
