Add some flavor and spice to your entrees with this Hello Fresh Tuscan Heat Spice. If you're a fan of the original Hello Fresh spice blend, you'll love this copycat version you can make at home! You can add this mixture to pasta, meats, salads, and pizza. It's the perfect addition to your weeknight dinner!
Our family loves to splurge and use the Hello Fresh meal kit subscription service when life gets busy. However, I loved this Tuscany spice mix so much that I searched for how to make it at home!
Many home chefs have guessed about the ratios for Hello Fresh spice blends, and several Reddit threads are dedicated to this speculation. However, in February 2019, Hello Fresh officially tweeted the ratios for its Tuscan heat spice blend. I take you through this original recipe below!
What is Tuscan heat spice
Tuscan heat spice has dried herbs, garlic powder, and a kick of cayenne. It's the perfect addition to your spice rack. This spice mix has the flavors of Tuscany with a little bit of heat. Tuscan heat spice typically comes in a small packet with your Hello Fresh meal kit. However, you can easily mix this up at home!
If you're looking for another condiment to add flavor, check out our Tex Mex Paste. This is excellent on meats as a marinade.
Key ingredients
This recipe uses a mixture of six different spices. You most likely have them at home in your spice cupboard already!
Basil + Rosemary + Oregano: This spice blend trio gives you a bold Italian and Tuscan base that the recipe builds on.
Cayenne Pepper: The official recipe from Hello Fresh called for a "low heat" cayenne pepper. However, I recommend using whatever best suits your taste. I found a regular cayenne pepper to be perfectly suitable for this recipe.
Fennel: This spice adds a sweet and licorice flavor to the spice mix. Feel free to leave the fennel seeds whole or coarsely grind them for this mix.
Step-by-step instructions
Follow the simple instructions below to whip up your spice mix in under five minutes!
Combine all your ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Stir to combine and store in an airtight container. Use a spice grinder to grind any whole spices. I do like to leave fennel whole in this recipe.
If you need assistance measuring your spices for the recipe, check out our post on how to accurately measure in teaspoons.
Substitutes for Hello Fresh Tuscan heat spice
If you don't have Tuscan heat spice on hand, these substitutions will work.
- Italian Seasoning + Cayenne Pepper. This combo will get you very close to the Tuscan heat spice without purchasing all the spices for the mix.
- Pizza Seasoning. Pizza seasoning typically has oregano, basil, thyme, paprika, and garlic powder. While the ratios are different, it's a perfect substitute in a pinch!
- EveryPlate Tuscan Heat Spice. EveryPlate is another meal subscription service that has a similar spice blend. Give it a try and enjoy their similar spice mix!
- Herbs de Provence. You'll want to add some cayenne pepper to this mix for some heat, but the blend of spices is very similar.
Although all of these work, I do recommend the recipe below. It's a winner!
Storage tips
Spices lose flavor the longer they sit out. So while they might not technically go bad, they will not have their original freshness. This spice mix will be freshest if used within six months.
Store this spice mix in an airtight container in a cool and dark place. Be sure not to store spices near your stove! The heat can cause spices to spoil more quickly.
You can even recycle containers and print off your own custom spice labels. I think this is such a cute way to store homemade spice blends.
Serving suggestions
This seasoning is perfect for meat, soup, salads—basically any of your main entrees!
This Tuscan beef stuffed pepper recipe is an excellent way to use this spice. Also, the Tuscan sausage and pepper spaghetti was a favorite for our family!
If using on meat, sprinkle one tablespoon of seasoning per pound of protein. This would go excellent on chicken, pork, beef, or salmon. Then, cook the meat, and enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
There are many spice blends available in the Hello Fresh meal kits. Some popular ones are Tunisian spice blend, fry seasoning, Turkish spice blend, and Italian seasoning.
Hello Fresh spices are only available through their meal subscription kits. I know, such a bummer! However, similar blends can be purchased or made at home.
While similar, these two spice blends are not the same.
Recipe
Hello Fresh Tuscan Heat Spice
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons basil dried flakes
- 2 teaspoons rosemary dried flakes
- 2 teaspoons oregano dried flakes
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon fennel ground
Instructions
- Grind any whole spices using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, until they reach your desired level of coarseness.
- Measure spices and combine them in a small bowl. Stir to combine the spices.
- Sprinkle on meat
LM
Is the fennel super important? I have the other spices so was curious if I can leave it out or sub another spice in its place.
Heather
Hi! You can definitely omit the fennel in the spice mix and still have this turn out okay. You don't even need to do substitute, should be completely fine!
Phil
Great, simple recipe. Tastes like the real thing from Hello Fresh. Appreciate the straightforward recipe.