Italian - Tomatoes, Pasta and Vegetables

What is my Italian spice blend?

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

In addition to being used as aspaghetti spice, this Italian spice blend can also be used in French cuisine, especially for Mediterranean and Provencal recipes.

David Vanille's choice: Traditionally, an Italian blend is composed of 5 spices. I chose to add a little niora pepper to bring a slightly smoky flavor and a very light note of spiciness that the most sensitive palates will appreciate.

Harvesting the herbs

The aromatic plants in my Italian spice have evergreen leaves. They can therefore be harvested according to the assemblies or needs. It is preferable to pick them in the morning to preserve all their flavors.

Good to know: It is advisable not to cut only 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 that make up my Italian spice blend. Although they are cousins, they differ in their shapes: garlic has a head and cloves, onions have a round fruit.

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

The origins of Italian spice blends

Italians have been fond ofaromatic herbs since the Republican era. At that time, they used them to make a sauce called garum, very similar to the Asian nuoc-mâm.

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

Italy itself has seen the birth of different culinary influences within its territory. Also, the blends of Italian spices and aromatics vary by region and even by family.

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. Don't hesitate to sprinkle half a teaspoon of it, just before serving, on your pasta dishes, your risottos, your home-made pizzas, as well as in a ratatouille or any meat or vegetable dish with a tomato base.

It can also shine on a salad or potato-based dishes.

This mixture has the particularity to deliver 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 make it up.

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

Sprinkle it on your tomato bruschetta or your fried calamari a la Romana to give them taste and character. They also enhance your antipasti. Try your hand at making elvers à la Pisana in the style of chef Alain Ducasse.

My Italian spice blend is also excellent with meats. You can tell me about it after tasting a carpaccio of bresaola or a braciola with truffles.

Added to your fish, it flavors 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 enhances 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 a very simple recipe based on a homemade arugula pesto with a tablespoon of our Italian blend. A delight!

The dish: Italian-style pasta with peppers

Emblematic food of Italy, pasta leaves room for all our culinary creativity. Choose fresh pasta and add a bell pepper and onion sauce. Finely chop your vegetables and let them brown in a little olive oil. At the end of cooking, sprinkle our Italian spice mix.

How to store the spice mix?

To store our Italian spice blend, we recommend that you keep it in its freshness bag or in an airtight jar. Keep it in a dry place and away from light so that this blend of spices and herbs retains all its flavor.