Spice 101: Herbes de Provence

We at Spice Traders are always listening to your questions, and we love the inspiration you are to us! You, fellow culinary travelers, are why we take so much joy in our swashbuckling voyages!

A recent and popular query is that of the unique French spice blend we carry at Spice Traders, Herbes de Provence. As the name suggests, it is a blend of spices common to the region of France called Provence, and is made of herbs that one can find flourishing on the rolling hillsides of southern France. These herbs often include savory, fennel, basil, thyme and lavender. A vivid and influential childhood memory of mine is watching the infamous Julia Child in the kitchen, using her Herbes de Provence in some fantastic butter-laden poultry dish. What? That's not what you watched on Saturday mornings as a kid? Hmm...

The rolling hills of Provence, France, filled with herbs!

So, what do you do with this blend? I'm so glad you asked!

• Mix generously with olive oil (we've got some great choices) and use as a rub on chicken or fish before grilling or broiling. Our favorite flavors are STM Fresh Basil Ex Virgin Olive Oil and STM Garlic Harvest Olive Oil.
• Use the olive oil/Herbes de Provence mixture on your favorite chopped root vegetables, such as potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, turnips. Roast on a cooking sheet in the oven, or grill.
• Use to season your next pork roast, complete with the root vegetable accompaniments.
• Dip a kebab of shrimp in olive oil, sprinkle with Herbes de Provence and salt. Grill.
• Sprinkle on buttered, sliced French bread for a toasted baguette to accompany a soup. 
• Great addition to scrambled eggs, especially when accompanied with goat cheese.
• Use to make herbed butter, mix into softened butter and a little STM artisan salt, store in fridge.
• Makes delicious sauteed mushrooms, again, mixed with an olive oil, such as STM Rosemary EVOO.
• Add a tsp or so to your next savory scone recipe for fantastic herbed scones.
• Sprinkle on top of winter squash before roasting. 
• Add a satchel of Herbes de Provence to a stew or broth, remove satchel before serving. 

Hopefully that is a good list to spark your culinary creativity and keep you experimenting! Swing by today, pick up your own packet of Herbes de Provence and pick an idea that sounds deliciously French to you!  Please let us know which you try and what you think! We love hearing from you!