A basic Italian herb garden will include maybe 8 or 9 of the most popular herbs , but did you know that Italian cuisine consistently uses over 50 herbs and spices. It is this broad use of herbs and spices from around the world that really makes Italian cuisine stand out so significantly. Some of them, such as cinnamon, comes from the bark of huge trees and so might not be convenient for most home gardens, and some are particular to certain growing zones. However, for the most part, these herbs and spices can easily be grown and incorporated into our attempt to create our favorite Italian dishes.
Of course a discussion must start with the essential Italian herbs – sweet basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, parsley and sage. There are over 40 varieties of basil but it is “Sweet Basil” that is most used in Italian dishes. It has a broad waxy leaf and grows to several feet high. It will seed in several months of growth allowing for a continuous supply of this tender herb throughout the season.
Oregano, sometimes called wild marjoram, like basil is a member of the mint family grows perennially. It is the Mediterranean variety that has a sweeter more delicate flavor.
The intense aromatic essential oil of rosemary makes it a favorite for adding flavor to meats. It is a perennial evergreen that is somewhat sensitive to frost. Their stems make a flavorful skewer for kabobs!
Thyme is a hearty perennial herb that grows to about 8” in high bush. Continual harvesting keeps it full. When harvesting thyme, remember that dried thyme is a more flavorful herb than fresh, and dried ground is stronger than chopped.
Italian Parsley is more than just a garnishment as its curly leafed cousin is. It is sweeter and tenderer and it blends well with other herbs to enhance their flavor. It is a biennial, if you can keep it that long, that is sensitive to too much sun or water.
Sage is a perennial beauty of the mint family. It is one of those herbs that is great for many things – cooking, tea, medicine, aroma, beauty, the list seems almost perpetual.
Here are another 40+ herbs used extensively in Italian recipes from appetizers to desserts. Many are used just as extensively and must be considered for an Italian herb garden:
Allspice
Anise Seed
Arrow Root,
Bay Leaves
Borage
Capers
Caraway Seed
Cardamom
Celery
Celery Seed
Chervil
Chives
Cilantro
Cinnamon
Cloves
Cumin
Dill
Dill Seed
Fennel Seed
Garlic
Ginger
Horseradish
Juniper Berries
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Lemon Verbena
Lemongrass
Mace
Marjoram
Mint
Mustard leaves
Mustard seed
Nutmeg
Onion
Paprika
Pepper
Poppy Seeds
Red Pepper
Saffron
Sesame Seed
Sorrel
Summer Savory
Tarragon
Turmeric
Vanilla
