Posts tagged flower power

Spices are one of those things that you can add to anything to make it better. Moderation is key, but more important is knowledge. Knowing more about what a spice tastes like, what it pairs well with will decrease spice-anxiety and promote use. So to increase your spice vocabulary and mine, the spice of the week is Herbes de Provence.

While the name might be French, its origins are questionable. Provence I presume? Well, since this is a spice blend, or several spices sold as one mixture there’s going to be variation too. What we can normally get our hands on is a hodge-podge of fennel, savory, thyme, and lavender.

Did I mention lavender? Don’t be afraid of flowers. I know it’s a strange concept, but let’s break this down shall we?

Flowers are beautiful. Things that look good generally taste good, so we can draw our first parallel. Next, spices are nothing more than dried leaves, sometimes seeds, so why shouldn’t the flower be used as well? Lastly, teas like chamomile and jasmine are excellent as well the result of soaking flowers in hot water and drinking the essence. Embrace the power of the flower, you won’t regret it. 

Herbes de Provence is the perfect edition to chicken or fish whether you’re baking it in the oven or pan searing. Try adding it to potatoes when baking, mashing, or sauteing for a light, sweet, citrus-esque burst of flavor. Whose taste buds wouldn’t want to go on a trip to France in the Spring? My personal favorite is Herbes de Provence on purple potato or red potato home fries!