Tuscan Heat Spice Recipe

If there would be any spice that went well on anything from pasta, pizza, stews, chicken wings, ribs, and all kinds of meat, it would definitely be the Tuscan Heat Spice. It adds bold flavors of Tuscan cuisine to all of your favorite dishes.

Tuscan Heat Spice is not just spices! It is a premium blend of garlic, red pepper, fennel, and other herbs and spices that will enhance any dish, delivering a perfect balance of bold flavors in every bite.

And today we’ll share a very simple and easy-to-follow Tuscan Heat Spice Recipe with you.

How to Make Tuscan Heat Spice Blend

Tuscan Heat Spice gives you a blend of 7 robust spices delivering rich flavors that will take your cooking to a whole new level. It is a blend of spicy, salty, and savory ingredients that will wake up your taste buds.

The versatility of this spice blend makes it suitable for pretty much anything you prepare, even baked goods. However, it goes without saying that Tuscan Heat Spice homemade seasoning goes incredibly well with garlic, tomatoes, dry fish, and other traditional Italian dishes.

With no further ado, let’s see the few ingredients you’ll need for this Tuscan Spice Blend.

Ingredients:

(20 servings)

• 2 tbsp ground rosemary
• 2 tbsp dried basil
• 2 tbsp dried parsley
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp dried marjoram
• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp red chili pepper dried flakes
• 2 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp ground dried lemon

Instructions:

Tuscan Heat Spice is a versatile all-purpose seasoning that delivers a delicate aroma of garlic, rosemary, and chives to your kitchen as you cook. Besides, it packs a lot of flavors without using salt, which makes it a perfect low-sodium-diet go-to.

But the best thing about it is probably that you can customize it as much as you like, to reach a perfect balance of spicy and savory. Not a fan of spicy? Omit or reduce the number of red pepper flakes, or even add tomato powder instead.

Want to spice things up a little? Add a little bit of cayenne pepper for additional heat. To turn it into a paste to rub any kind of meat, just mix the Tuscan Heat Spice with some olive oil.

It goes as far as your imagination. You can fully personalize this homemade Tuscan seasoning blend.

Step 1:

Mix all spices together in a small mixing bowl. If you have a spice grinder, you can put the Tuscan Heat Spice in it to make it finer. A coffee grinder also works.

Step 2:

Store your Tuscan Heat Spice in a mason jar with a tightly closed lid to keep the flavors in.

You see, to make this Tuscan Heat Spice all you need is to mix the spices and herbs. It’s that simple!

Ingredient Substitution

Tuscan Heat Spice is extremely versatile. That’s why you can tweak the recipe as much as you want to make it suit your taste palate or spiciness preferences. Also, depending on the dishes you intend to use it for, you can make it saltier or milder.

Besides, it might seem like the Tuscan Heat Spice recipe already has all of the spices it needs. But we know the perfect substitutes.

Oregano

Marjoram and oregano are very similar in size, flavor, and texture. That’s why they are used interchangeably in a lot of recipes, and that’s why oregano is the easiest substitute for marjoram.

You can use it the same way as marjoram, other than adding a slightly lower amount, since oregano has a stronger flavor, especially when dried. So, use half the amount of marjoram.

Cayenne pepper

Since red pepper flakes are made from a combination of peppers, including cayenne pepper, using it alone as a substitute for red pepper flakes would be a great option. But it is, in fact, a spicier and more concentrated option.

Use ½  tbsp of cayenne powder for every 1 tbsp of red pepper flakes. But if you want to make the Tuscan Heat Spice a little milder, just don’t add any peppers. You already have the smoked paprika in the recipe.

Fennel seeds

Fennel seeds, native to the Mediterranean, are found in many parts of the world. It is also sometimes called sweet cumin because of its resemblance. However, fennel seeds have a mild and licorice-like flavor with powerful essential oils to top it off.

Aside from many culinary uses, fennel seeds present a variety of health benefits. That’s why we recommend using it not as a substitute for any of the herbs or spices, but rather as an addition.

What to Serve with Tuscan Heat Spice

Since we’ve already told you that Tuscan Heat Spice is the perfect combination of salty and savory, you probably have some ideas on how to use it by now.

Anything tastes better with this homemade Italian seasoning. However, consider these tasty variations.

Tuscan steak

Tuscany is known as a meat- and grill-loving region of central Italy. That’s why Tuscan steak is one of the most popular dishes.

It uses a simple marinade made from garlic, lemon zest, loads of rosemary and oregano, and any other spices you’ve decided to load your Heat Spice with.

Once the steak takes all the garlicky goodness from the Tuscan-seasoned marinade, it is sizzled away on the grill until getting tender, juicy, and beautifully charred.

That’s what Italian cooking is all about—highlighting simple ingredients and making them taste incredible. Serve your Tuscan steak with a glass of wine for a perfect dinner.

Tuscan Chicken pasta

If you’re in a hurry and want something endlessly versatile and easy to make, it’s chicken and pasta. Besides, you probably have some in your pantry or freezer right now.

Tuscan Chicken pasta is much more than a simple chicken. A rich and flavorful cream sauce, fresh garlic, Parmesan, and a spicy Tuscan Heat Spice take it to a totally different level.

Pack the dish with some colorful spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, and you’ve got the perfect dish for a special occasion dinner. It’s absolutely delicious.

Roast potatoes

Roast potatoes can turn any dish into a full-fledged meal. They are crispy on the inside and fluffy on the inside, which makes them the perfect pairing for hearty mushrooms, aromatic garlic, and bright red bell peppers.

Sprinkle it with some homemade Tuscan seasoning blend with olive oil and a sharp parmesan and you’ll get a sensational dish. You will even want to keep it to yourself rather than share it!

How to Store Tuscan Heat Spice

Spices and herbs, like all foods, have a distinct shelf-life. The shelf-life of your Tuscan Heat Spice depends on how it is cared for.

Heat, air, humidity, and sunlight all have detrimental effects on the flavors of your seasoning. And since the Tuscan Heat Spice is a blend of herbs and spices, its flavors might lose potency and become moldy, musty, and dry.

To avoid that you must know the best ways to store the Tuscan Heat Spice mix.

Store Tuscan Heat Spice on the Shelf

The longest you could store the dried herbs and ground spices that comprise your Tuscan seasoning is one year. But this only works if the spice blend is kept in an airtight container in a dark, cool place.

Glass jars with tight lids work perfectly for storing Tuscan Heat Spice in a cupboard. However, ensure to keep it away from the sunlight.

Store Tuscan Heat Spice in a Fridge/Freezer

Some might insist the fridge provides an ideal dark and cold environment for storing spices. However, the humidity of the fridge alters the flavors of the Tuscan Heat Spice seasoning. Also, it can even grow mold or bacteria. The same refers to the freezer.

Due to this reason, we strongly urge you to not store this Tuscan Heat Spice blend in the fridge or freezer, unless it’s been vacuum-sealed.