Italian Seasoning can be made in 5 minutes or less. You can use the herbs from your garden, fresh herbs from the store or already dried herbs from the store. There is endless way to make this from scratch with fresh, natural ingredients even if you don’t have a homestead. Let me show you how!
Why Make This Recipe
This is one of those recipes where I can’t believe I had all the ingredients in my pantry and I was still going to the store to buy it. Looking back, I kind of feel silly. I didn’t realize how much money I was wasting until I counted the number of times I was buying the same ingredients, just pre-mixed. When you think about how long it takes to mix it yourself (about 5 minutes) you may feel silly too, but don’t worry… I am not here to judge. I am here to help educate and share with you all the thing I wish I had known sooner.
If this sounds like you and you want to stop spending money on things you already have in your pantry, you have come to the right place. This is where I teach you everything I am learning about building a self-sufficient pantry and cooking from scratch. Want help getting started?
Grab my FREE ‘from scratch’ Pantry Guide to help you get started without the overwhelm.
Getting Started
To get started, you will only need 6 Ingredients (herbs) that can be grown naturally at home. You can also buy fresh herbs from the grocery store and dry them yourself. Another option is buying the pre-dried herbs in the spice section of the grocery store. There is no wrong option.
When you are buying pre-dried herbs from the spice section, make sure you look at the ingredients. If there is anything on the ingredients list that you are unfamiliar with, pick a different brand. Some brands like to put preservatives or fillers in with the product, and you want to stay away from those. If you are looking for basil, the only ingredient should be basil.
If you are going to be using fresh herbs, you will need to dry them first. To do this you can just hang them upside down, letting the air dry it out naturally. You can also use to Dehydrator to make this process go faster. The drier they are, the longer they will last in the pantry. If they are not completely dry, they will start to mold and go bad if it is not stored in the fridge. It is important that your herbs are completely dry. They should crunch when you break the leaves. If they bend, they are not dry enough.
Once you have your seasonings and they are completely dry, you’re ready to make Italian Seasoning!
The Recipe
Ingredinets
- 2 Tbsp Dried Basil
- 2 Tbsp Dried Oregano
- 2 Tbsp Dried Parsley
- 1 Tbsp Dried Rosemary
- 1 Tbsp Dried Tyme
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Store your Italian Seasoning Mixture in an airtight container.
How to make this process go even faster
I like to add all my ingredients to the airtight container that I am going to be storing my seasoning in. When I am ready to mix it together, I put the lid on, shake it vigorously and then put it in the pantry.
Super easy and takes less then 5 minutes when you cut out switching it from one container to another. This short cut may sound simple, but when you are very busy, every little bit of a time saver helps!
Storage Tips
Here are all my suggestions on how to store this seasoning and what containers I prefer.
I like my seasonings to be easily accessible but also easy to use. If it isn’t easy, I probably won’t use it. The store-bought seasoning container are hard to measure with measuring spoons because the opening is so small. These are the containers I like to use.
You are also use something as simple as a mason jar. It doesn’t have to be fancy to get started. No matter what you choose, make sure it is an airtight container.
Longer-Term Storage
If you are wanting to store this seasoning long-term there is an extra couple steps you must take. By doing these extra steps you are ensuring that the seasoning mix stay fresh for as long as possible.
You will want to store it in a vacuum sealed container. A mason jar is my favorite way to store food long-term. However, you will also need to add a food grade oxygen absorber to absorb any oxygen that is still in the vacuum sealed container. Here are the mason jar vacuum sealer and the oxygen absorbers I use.
How to Use This Seasoning
This is the go-to seasoning for Italian Dishes. Hence why it’s called Italian Seasoning. You can use this seasoning in Spaghetti, Lasagna, Pizza, tomato soup, etc. It’s mainly used in high tomato dishes because the sweetness in the herbs mellows the acidic, tomato flavor and balances it out really nicely.
When you are a really acidic dish, bring this seasoning out and give it a try. Play around with the flavor and see what it pairs well with. You might be surprised and how well it pairs with certain foods and flavors.
Want a Stronger Favor?
Have you bought seasonings from the spice section at the grocery store, and it just tastes bland? I have noticed the same thing. You are definitely not alone! When you dry and blend your own herbs, the flavor is 100% more potent.
Why is this? Because over time, the longer the dried herbs sit on the shelf, the more flavor they lose. Those spices could have been sitting on the shelf for years before you bought it and by then the flavor is almost completely gone.
How do you fix this? Dry and blend fresh Herbs. I promise you, the flavors will be way more intense, and you won’t have to use quite so much to get the flavor to come through in your dish. You will actually spend less money because you don’t have to use quite as much, which makes it last longer.
Want Help Building Your Pantry?
Building a pantry that is built around all natural ingredients, and no pre-made mixes can be very overwhelming. If you are feeling like you don’t even know where to start or how to keep up with it all once you build it, then I built this guide for you! My From Scratch Pantry Guide walks you through where to start, and how to maintain it without the feeling of being overwhelmed.
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Italian Seasoning
Italian Seasoning can be made in 5 minutes or less. You can use the herbs from your garden, fresh herbs from the store or already dried herbs from the store.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Dried Basil
- 2 Tbsp Dried Oregano
- 2 Tbsp Dried Parsley
- 1 Tbsp Dried Rosemary
- 1 Tbsp Dried Tyme
- 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Store your Italian Seasoning Mixture in an airtight container.
Notes
- Make this process go even faster - I like to add all my ingredients to the airtight container that I am going to be storing my seasoning in. When I am ready to mix it together, I put the lid on, shake it vigorously and then put it in the pantry.
- Storage Tips - Make sure you are using an airtight container. The store-bought seasoning container are hard to measure with measuring spoons because the opening is so small. These are the containers I like to use.
- Long-Term Storage Tips - You will want to store it in a vacuum sealed container. A mason jar is my favorite way to store food long-term. However, you will also need to add a food grade oxygen absorber to absorb any oxygen that is still in the vacuum sealed container. Here are the mason jar vacuum sealer and the oxygen absorbers I use.
- Want Stronger Flavors? Dry and blend fresh Herbs. I promise you, the flavors will be way more intense, and you won't have to use quite so much to get the flavor to come through in your dish. You will actually spend less money because you don't have to use quite as much, which makes it last longer.
- Want Help Building Your Pantry? My From Scratch Pantry Guide walks you through where to start, and how to maintain it without the feeling of being overwhelmed.
- Other Recipes You May Like - Taco Seasoning, Burger Seasoning, Seasoned Salt
