Make your own homemade Italian Seasoning with dehydrated herbs or store bought. You'll save tons of money and when using the dried herbs you have preserved you will have the freshest seasoning blends on hand to cook with all the time. Plus you will save money and have a perfect seasoning that can be used for pasta, chicken, soups, marinades, and so much more.
Homemade Spice blends
One of my favorite benefits of dehydrating the herbs I grow is that I always have the freshest dried herbs in my spice cabinet.
If you love cooking Italian food or enjoy the fresh flavors of Mediterranean recipes a good Italian seasoning spice blend is a must have for your pantry.
Dried herbs
I love my little herb garden and grow it for pure pleasure. A benefit is that I always have fresh or dried herbs on hand. For years I have harvested and used them to make dehydrated herbs.
Check out 12 Easy Herbs to Grow from Seeds for tips on growing a small herb garden.
If you want to try your hand at dehydrating herbs but can't grow your own check out a local farmers market where you can buy fresh herbs in bulk.
- Dehydrating Basil: Basil comes in many varieties. The best basil for an Italian seasoning is Sweet Basil, Genovese Basil, or Cardinal Basil. Cardinal Basil (I used) is a basil variety that has purple stems, green leaves and large dense magenta flower heads. It has a stronger spicier scent and flavor that is similar to sweet basil.
- Dehydrating Oregano: Grow one pot of oregano and you can dehydrate enough dried oregano that will last you a year.
- Dehydrating Thyme: Thyme is a delicate herb and dries best at a lower temperature.
- Dehydrating Rosemary: Rosemary is a must have herb when it comes to any Mediterranean style recipe. It adds a piney, woodsy flavor with just a hint of lemon notes. If you have never tried fresh rosemary you have no idea how much better the flavor is compared to bottle dried rosemary.
- Dehydrating Parsley: Parsley is a staple herb that should be in every spice cabinet that adds flavor and a splash of color when used as a garnish.
Below is a quick look at the ingredients and directions. You can find the entire ingredient amounts and step by step directions in the recipe card below. P. S. You can also save your favorite recipes to your personal recipe box! ⬇️
Key Ingredients
To make this Italian seasoning you don't have to dry your own herbs but if you do your spice blend mix will be fresher than any bottle of seasoning you could ever buy.
Another option is to use the dried herbs you may already have in your spice cabinet.
A combination of dried basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and garlic powder will give you a well-balanced, aromatic dried herb blend perfect for pasta sauces, roasted veggies, and grilled meats!
If you want to add a little heat you can add a pinch of crushed red pepper to the mix.
I usually wait until I am cooking to add red pepper flakes according to the recipes I am seasoning.
👇See the step by step directions below!
Making homemade spice blends is one of the easiest things you can do in your kitchen that can help you save money.
Prep
If the dried rosemary you are using are long needles you will need to chop it up into smaller pieces with a spice grinder. Use short bursts until the large needles are broken down into tiny pieces. Stop grinding before the herb turns into a powder.
Step by Step Directions
Step 1: In a medium sized bowl measure each dried herb and the powdered garlic.
Step 2: Use a spoon or a whisk to stir the mixture until all the herbs are evenly blended.
Step 3: Fill a spice jar and keep it in your spice cabinet for easy access and store any leftover blend in an airtight container in the pantry to replenish you spice jar as needed.
This spice blend will make 11 tablespoons. You will need 7 tablespoons to fill a 4 ounce spice jar.
Best way to store homemade herb and spice blends
To keep your homemade spice blends or dried herbs the freshest you need to store them properly. The number one thing you can do to keep them the freshest for the longest is to store them out of direct light in a cool dark area.
Sun and heat will cause the color and flavor of spices to fade more quickly, reducing their potency and overall shelf life.
To keep your homemade Italian seasoning fresh, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, like a pantry or spice drawer.
Do you grow and dry your own herbs? What’s your favorite way to use Italian seasoning?
Recipes that use Italian Seasoning
📌Pro Tips
- I used a spice blender to chop the rosemary into smaller pieces.
- Keep the DIY Italian seasoning in a cool dark cabinet away from direct sunlight to keep the seasoning fresh and to prevent the color of the herbs from fading.
Making your own homemade seasonings with dehydrated dried herbs is a simple way to add bold, fresh flavor to your cooking while saving money.
With just a few pantry staples, you can create a versatile blend that’s free from fillers and preservatives.
Store it properly, and you’ll always have a delicious seasoning ready to enhance your favorite dishes.
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Homemade Italian Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons dried basil
- 2 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Prep
- If using the long needles of dried rosemary you need to grind it in a spice grinder to break it down into smaller pieces.
Making the spice blend
- Gather the dried herbs.
- Measure them into a bowl.
- Use a whisk or a spoon to mix until all the dried spices are evenly combined.
- Pour into a spice jar for your spice cabinet.
- Or place into an airtight container to keep fresh while stored in a cool and dark cabinet.
Recipe Expert Tips
- Use store bought or dehydrated dried herbs to make budget friendly spice blends.
- Store the spice blend in a dark cool cabinet so it will last a long time.
julie
I love using a herb mix. This looks like a lovely blend
Esme Slabbert
Love this, pinned and bookmarked so not to miss this
Visiting via A pinch of Joy.
My entries this week #105+106
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Joanne
Thanks so much for sharing!