I often talk about herb and spice blends. They are a fantastic
way to save time in the kitchen and perfect when you want just the
right proportion of flavors. A few months ago, I mentioned a blend
of herbs called Herbs de Provence. This week, I want to tell you
more about them and how they can be used in grilling.
I often talk about herb and spice blends. They are a fantastic way to save time in the kitchen and perfect when you want just the right proportion of flavors. A few months ago, I mentioned a blend of herbs called Herbs de Provence. This week, I want to tell you more about them and how they can be used in grilling.
Herbs de Provence is a unique blend of herbs from the Provence region of France. The herbs used in the blend grow very easily in this part of France and are widely used. The traditional blend of herbs in the mixture is basil, marjoram, savory, rosemary and thyme.
In some blends, the buds of the lavender plant are also included. I have had blends with and without the lavender and prefer the blends with the lavender since they have an added sweetness. There is not a set quantity of one herb proportion versus the others, although thyme is usually the dominant herb of the blend. Check the ingredients list to see what kinds of herbs are in each specific brand and to confirm if lavender is present, too.
In some grocery stores, you can find the fresh mixture available in the herb section of the produce department. This is a great way to buy and use them if you want to keep everything fresh. If you want to have a longer shelf life for your Herbs de Provence, I suggest purchasing the dried version. Just about every brand has an Herbs de Provence blend. If you want to extend the shelf life of the dried herbs, store them in the refrigerator.
Herbs de Provence can be added to many dishes and are a great addition to soups. When I serve breakfast to guests, the addition of Herbs de Provence changes plain scrambled eggs into Scrambled Eggs de Provence. Serve the eggs with croissants and fresh seasonal fruit and you will have a memorable breakfast. Herbs de Provence also makes a lovely crust on an oven-roasted prime rib.
Using Herbs de Provence adds a classic French spin to many of our favorite grilled items, too. Herbs de Provence with the addition of olive oil, garlic and sparkling wine vinegar makes a great basting sauce for steaks. I have used Herbs de Provence to make a “tea” when preparing salt brine for a roast before I indirect grill it. Zucchini tossed with olive oil, salt and Herbs de Provence prior to grilling is a great way to use the blend as a direct seasoning.
Herbs de Provence makes a wonderful accompaniment to a wine-based marinade. I am speaking from experience – what I will call a happy accident. When preparing a marinade for chicken, I wanted to do something different and unique. To start the base of the marinade, I reduced some red wine in a saucepan to about half the original quantity. After cooling for a few minutes, I added some sliced shallots to allow the heat to extract some of their flavor. Then I blended in a little salt, pepper, a touch of honey and, of course, the Herbs de Provence. I allowed it to cool completely before I added it to the chicken to marinade overnight.
In this preparation, the chicken will be slow-roasted. Instead of roasting the whole chicken in the traditional way, I decided to remove the backbone and roast the chicken flat. It roasts evenly and also makes an uncommon presentation brilliant. To remove the backbone, use poultry sheers to cut along both sides of the backbone. The same can be done with a very sharp knife. Once the backbone is removed, the chicken will need to be opened flat and pressed so that the inside of the chicken will lay flat on the grill.
Herbs de Provence is a welcome addition to a variety of everyday dishes.
When used in grilling, the herbs can put a French spin on many favorites. The next time you are in the dried herb section at your grocery store, pick up a bottle to have on hand. I promise you, if you have not tried Herbs de Provence yet, it will soon become one of your favorite herb blends.
