What is my Italian spice blend?

This Italian spice blend is a blend of 5 herbs and spices that together transform your most classic dishes into tasty recipes with the flavours of Italy.

It is composed of :

• Piment niora: a small Spanish chilli pepper with a round shape. Like the Espelette chilli pepper, it is very fragrant and has a moderate spiciness.
• Basil and garlic: two spices that together in the same dish immediately transport us to Italy. They bring freshness, taste and refinement to your dishes.
• Onion and parsley: two herbs that add a little spiciness, freshness and taste without denaturing the food.

In addition to being used as a spice for spaghetti, this Italian spice blend can also be used in French cuisine, particularly for Mediterranean and Provençal recipes.

David Vanilla's choice: Traditionally, an Italian blend is made up of 5 herbs. I chose to add a little niora pepper to bring a slightly smoky flavour and a very light spicy note that will please even the most sensitive palates.

The harvest of aromatic plants

The aromatic plants in my Italian spice have evergreen foliage. They can therefore be harvested according to the blends or needs. An early morning harvest is preferable to preserve all their flavours.

Good to know: It is advisable not only to cut the leaves of aromatic plants, but also to take their branches.

The differences between garlic and onion

Garlic and onion are two of the ingredients in my Italian spice blend. Although they are cousins, they differ in shape: garlic is composed of a head and cloves, onion of a round fruit.

The onion is used as a vegetable and as a condiment.

The origins of Italian spice blends

Italians have been fond of aromatic herbs since the Republican era. At that time, they made a sauce, the garum, very similar to the Asian nuoc mam.

It is important to know that Italian cuisine as we know it today is inspired by many foreign culinary traditions: Arab, Slavic, Austrian, Amerindian, Berber...).

Italy itself is home to a variety of culinary influences within its own territory. Also, the blends of Italian spices and herbs vary from region to region and even from family to family.

Other uses of the herbs in this blend

Aromatic plants and chilli pepper all have benefits for our health:

• Garlic: it is an antibacterial which also has antiviral properties. It is a source of antioxidant. It is also known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cholesterol virtues. It is also consumed to limit cardiovascular disease and regulate hypertension.
• Onion: this superaliment improves blood circulation and has diuretic effects, which makes it an excellent slimming ally.
• Basil: this aromatic plant is an antispasmodic that has been used for centuries. It prevents nausea and vomiting. Good for digestion, it is also anti-inflammatory.
• Parsley: rich in vitamins and minerals, parsley stimulates digestion. It is believed to have medicinal properties that can protect the liver and intestines, particularly in the case of cancer. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Chilli niora pepper: Like all peppers, the niora pepper in our Italian spice blend helps burn fat. It also acts on digestion, infections and inflammations.

How do I use my Italian spice blend in cooking?

If our Italian spice blend is a precious ally in the preparation of refined meals, it will perfectly delight the taste buds of young and old in everyday cooking. So don't hesitate to sprinkle half a teaspoon of it, just before serving, on your pasta dishes, risottos, homemade pizzas, as well as in a ratatouille or any meat or vegetable dish based on tomatoes.

It can also shine on a salad or potato dishes.

This blend has the particularity of delivering warm and slightly spicy flavours. It can be used on raw food or at the end of cooking to preserve the aromas of the herbs that compose it.

This blend of herbs also goes wonderfully well with herbs from Provence or my Pizza spice blend. It is ideal to concoct a 100% Italian menu for your guests.

Sprinkle it on your tomato bruschettas or fried squid à la romana to give them taste and character. They also sublimate your antipasti. Try making elvers à la Pisana in the style of Chef Alain Ducasse.

My Italian spice mix is also excellent with meats. You'll tell me more after tasting a bresaola carpaccio or a truffle braciola.

Added to your fish, it flavours sea bream, sole... Finally, it brings a Mediterranean note to your vegetables and pasta.

Our recipe ideas with an Italian spice blend

Would you like to discover my Italian spice blend? Here is a simple menu where this blend sublimates the products!

The starter: Bruschettas with pesto

Simple and quick to make bruschetta is a symbol of Italian cuisine. Usually made with fresh tomatoes, it can also be made according to your desires. Here, we propose you a very simple recipe based on a homemade arugula pesto with a tablespoon of our Italian mixture. It's delicious!

The dish: Pasta with Italian-style peppers

An emblematic food of Italy, pasta leaves room for all our culinary creativity. Choose fresh pasta and add a pepper and onion sauce. Finely chop your vegetables and fry them in a little olive oil. At the end of cooking, sprinkle with our Italian-style herb mixture.

How do you store spice mixes?

To keep our Italian spice blend, we advise you to keep it in its freshness bag or in an airtight jar. Prefer a dry place, away from the light, so that this blend of spices and herbs retains all its flavour.