Is there a typical ratio for Herbes de Provence?
I know that Herbes de Provence generally contains savory, fennel, basil and thyme. Unfortunately, pre-packaged mixtures in the US usually also contain lavender. I hate lavender, it smells like my grandmother's underwear drawer. I need Herbes de Provence for a recipe I'm making soon, so I'll just make my own sans lavender. So, simple question: Typically is the mixture equal amounts of the other herbs, or should I use more or less of some of the herbs?
Best Answer
Wiki's cited entry on Herbes de Provence is interesting. The ready-made spice blend "Herbes de Provence" did not come into existence until the 1970's, as a product marketed by the French company Ducros. If there's a standard blend ratio, it would therefore be what's in the Ducros' product - though since it is a generic term rather than a trademarked one, other manufacturers and cooks have their own recipes and interpretations.
Ducros' own blend breaks down like this, according to the "My French Cuisine" blog (who also has the McCormick blend breakdown and a home-made alternative blend sourced from a French cookbook):
- Rosemary (romarin) – 26%
- Savory (sariette) – 26%
- Oregano (origan) – 26%
- Thyme (thym) – 19%
- Basil (basilic) – 3%
Pictures about "Is there a typical ratio for Herbes de Provence?"
What is in traditional herbes de Provence?
Herbes de Provence is an aromatic mixture of dried Proven\xe7al herbs and spices, which traditionally includes thyme, basil, rosemary, tarragon, savory, marjoram, oregano, and bay leaf. Herbes de Provence are most commonly used in French cuisine, though the flavors also pair well with Mediterranean cuisine.What can I use as a substitute for herbes de Provence?
There isn't really an herb blend that's a direct substitute for herbes de Provence. But if you don't have the blend on hand, you can easily make your own. This could mean mixing together a few pinches of thyme, rosemary and tarragon for a roast chicken or savory, basil and marjoram in a lentil stew.What is the difference between Italian seasoning and herbs de Provence?
Herbes de Provence comes from Provence, a region in France, while Italian seasoning, despite the name, is an American creation. Also, while herbes de Provence do use most of the ingredients found in Italian spice mixes (with the exception of basil), it also includes lavender flowers and has a strong floral taste.What is in McCormick herbs de Provence?
McCormick Culinary Herbes De Provence features a balanced, flavorful blend of rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage, anise seed, savory, and lavender spices.EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT HERBES DE PROVENCE
More answers regarding is there a typical ratio for Herbes de Provence?
Answer 2
And just what were you doing in your grandmothers underwear drawer??
I love the lavender in herbes de Provence, and I consider a judicious pinch of fennel seed is both authentic and enlivening.
But Richard Olney who was highly authorative on Provencal cuisine, like you, hated lavender in the mix, and he also rejected rosemary and sage. His recipe is simply dried thyme, oregano, savory and marjoram, in descending proportions, preferably freshly personally collected, dried, crumbled in a food processor and then seived.
Answer 3
There is no single standard ratio for herbs de Provence, but you can easily google many recipes for specific interpretations.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Max Vakhtbovych, Max Vakhtbovych, Max Vakhtbovych, Max Vakhtbovych