52 Italian Cooking Herbs

Most of us know what goes in the basic Italian herb garden , but there are over 50 herbs and spices used regularly in Italian recipes. It is this broad use of herbs and spices from around the world that really makes Italian cuisine stand out so significantly. Some, such as Allspice, is a tropical plant, making it unavailable for most home gardens.   However, for the most part, these herbs and spices can easily be grown and added to our favorite Italian dishes.

Any discussion of Italian herbs must include these essential herbs   – 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.

Rosemary is a favorite if for nothing else than its bouquet. Its essential oil permeates whatever sauce or meat it is combined with. It is perennial and can be shaped with some persevering pruning. By the way, their stems make great skewers for kabobs!

Thyme is a perennial herb with numerous woody stems that are round and hard. It usually grows to about 8” in height. Continuous harvesting of thyme will keep it under control. Keep in mind that dried thyme has a stronger flavor than fresh, just as ground is stronger than chopped. It blends well with other herbs and is great in stews.

Italian Parsley is sweeter and tenderer than its curly leafed cousin and it universally used to blend with other herbs, enhancing their flavor. It is a biennial, if you can keep it that long, that is sensitive to too much sun or water. Planting it in a semi-shaded spot in soil that drains well but stays moist will keep you in parsley all season long.

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 endless.

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