| By Gaius Robinson, Sonoma County Master Gardener
Many years ago, my sister brought me a lovely little clay jar with the name, “Herbes de Provence” written on the front. I found that many foods were enhanced by using this concoction.
The basic fines herbes of classical French cooking only included parsley, thyme, bay and tarragon. You can well imagine a Provencal gardener collecting wild thyme, rosemary, bay, savory, fennel and adding tiny bits of lavender blossoms to make an herbal blend to have on hand when fresh herbs were out of season.
That original blend has long been used up and in its place, I have developed my own blends; bought some fantastic mixes from local vendors; and reciprocated by giving my own Herbes de Provence to my sister. She uses it so often in scrambled eggs that when she served her four-year-old daughter some eggs the other day, Jackie complained to her mother, “Mom, you forgot the herbes de Promise”! She is so right! If you use this blend, it will be a promise of great flavor.
Like the recipe for a perfect perfume, blending your own herbs lets you pick which “herbal note” you wish to accentuate when you make your own herbes de Provence. Try the recipe to the right, close your eyes, inhale and be whisked to the south of France.
| Herbs de Provence
1 tsp. dried lavender blossoms
5 tbsp. dried lemon thyme or other thyme
3 tbsp. dried savory
2 tbsps. dried marjoram
4 tbsp. dried rosemary
1 tsp. fennel seeds
1 tbsp. dried sage
1 crumbled bay leaf (European bay is sweeter, California bay is stronger)
All of the herbs must be dried; the bay leaf crumbled by hand. Use only the leaves. No woody stems. Combine the ingredients and whirl in a mini chopper. You don’t want it reduced to a powder, just a nice fine chop. Check the mixture for any woody bits that may have slipped by the first time. Store in an airtight glass jar for maximum shelf life. Sprinkle the mixture on veggies sautéed in olive oil, on chicken or fish about to be roasted, on fresh sliced tomatoes or use in simple omelets with cheese. Above all, don’t forget to use in scrambled eggs, it will give you the “promise” of a taste treat! |
