If you want to know the secret of the distinctive flavor of Italian pasta dishes, salads, soups, and pestos, the answer is clear: it’s all about the seasoning.
The essential components of traditional, homemade Italian seasoning are dried basil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, oregano, and parsley. Garlic is quite often added, and red pepper flakes can also be included as an optional extra.
Italian seasoning can be bought ready-made at your local supermarket – but, like so many other things, homemade Italian seasoning always tastes so much better! You will always be able to find top-quality olive oil for Italian seasoning on Dolceterra.com, and then you can add the herbs and spices you like best.
Popular Uses of Italian Seasoning
This versatile herb and spice blend can be used in any traditional Italian recipe – in fact, just about any recipe, even if it’s not Italian. Italian seasoning goes well with balsamic or red wine vinegar, lemon juice, mild cheeses (like mozzarella or ricotta), and anything with olive oil. The versatile Italian herb thyme can even be used to spice up sweet treats!
Just a few of the dishes that taste better with Italian seasoning are:
- Chicken
- Fish
- Any vegetables
- Any pizzas
- Sandwiches
- Garlic bread
- Pasta sauce
Other popular recipes featuring Italian seasoning can include dishes like pizza casserole, Sicilian skillet chicken (with lemon, olives, and capers), and vegan chickpea minestrone.
Handy Tips
Unless you’re the busiest person around and you have literally no extra time, you can easily find an Italian seasoning recipe that you can make at home in no time at all. All you have to do is combine the dried ingredients and store them in a suitable container.
As long as they’ve been properly dried, the herbs used in Italian seasoning stay fresh for months. Of course, you need to store them in a jar (preferably glass) with a tight-fitting lid, otherwise the herbs could start to decay.
Even if they start out perfect, though, dried herbs will not normally maintain their full flavor for more than about six months.
If you’re lucky enough to be making an Italian seasoning recipe using fresh herbs from your garden, make sure you give them more than enough time in the sun to dry out fully before you try storing them.
There’s nothing better than the fresh taste of home-grown herbs – but at the same time, there’s nothing worse than herbs that were not dry enough when stored. Their pungent aroma will be lost, and mold may even start to grow.
Conclusion
If you don’t already have a favorite Italian seasoning recipe, now is the perfect time to choose one! Using this tried and trusted blend will transform almost any dish from bland to piquant in an instant. Take your taste buds on a tour of Italy from the comfort of your own home!
