I often find spice mixes a great help when I’m cooking in a hurry, but I don’t like the kind you buy ready. First, they’re often ridiculously expensive. Second, they often contain salt and that determines how much of them you can use (unless you liked over-salted food which I don’t). Thirdly, they’re most often not as good as the ones you make yourself.

This is a blend of herbs, garlic and mushrooms that is great for stews, soups and any kind of cooking where you want a sort of rural touch. Try it in a ragù or on pizza or even on oven-roasted potatoes.

You need:

Dried mushrooms (any kind basically, but the drier and crisper the better)

Thyme (dried)

Roasted garlic (dried)

Parsley (dried)

Put the garlic and the mushrooms in a mortar and crush them into a coarse sort of powder. Add thyme and parsley. Put in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and use it extensively!