Seasoning blends are an integral part of cooking if you are someone who loves experimenting with new dishes. Thus, we thought of explaining everything you need to know about Greek seasoning vs Italian seasoning.
The main difference between Greek seasoning and Italian seasoning comes down to their ingredients. Greek seasoning is typically a blend of spices and dried herbs, while traditional Italian seasoning mix only has several aromatic herbs. Therefore, their flavor profiles and some uses in cooking differ, respectively.
So, if you ever doubted how these two blends distinguish from each other, here’s all you need to know!
Greek Seasoning vs Italian Seasoning- The Comparison Table
| Greek Seasoning | Italian Seasoning | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Ingredients | – Onion powder – Garlic powder – Black pepper – Ground cinnamon – Greek oregano – Basil – Thyme – Marjoram – Parsley – Dill weed May also include: – Ground nutmeg – Dried rosemary – Salt | Dried herbs such as: – Basil – Oregano – Rosemary – Thyme – Marjoram – Sage It May also contain: – Dried cilantro – Dried savory – Fennel seeds – Crushed red pepper flakes – Garlic powder |
| Base flavor | Spicy and herbal | Savory and herbal |
| Flavor profile | It has a deeper and more intense flavor than Italian seasoning with warm, savory, spicy, earthy, and slight peppery-sweet undertones. | Less intense than Greek seasoning with more potent herbal, earthy, savory, piney, and subtle sweet hints. |
| Texture | Dry and coarse | Dry and coarse |
| Mode of usage in cooking | As a cooking ingredient | As a cooking ingredient |
| Usages in cooking | – To incorporate into Greek-inspired rice dishes. – As an ingredient in marinades and wet rubs. – To be mixed into various dishes made with chicken, pork, lamb, shrimp, white fish, etc. – To make creamy dips. – As a taste enhancer when making roasted vegetables. – To mix into salads and salad dressings. | – Mainly used in Italian-American dishes like pizza, pasta, spaghetti, and lasagna. – To incorporate into ground meat mixtures when making burgers, sausages, meatballs, etc. – With vegetable dishes – As a seasoning ingredient for meat and seafood – As an ingredient in savory rice dishes – To be mixed into dips, salad dressing, vinaigrettes, and salads. |
| Origin | Greek cuisine | The origin of Italian seasoning is controversial since some believe it came from Italian cuisine while others think it is an American invention. |
| Mode of production | Both commercial and homemade options exist. | Both commercial and homemade options exist. |
| Availability | – Comes in bottles and containers in different sizes and quantities. – Mainly available in leading supermarkets and online shopping sites. | – Comes in containers, bottles, and packets in various quantities. – Widely available in supermarkets, grocery stores, and online sellers. |
| Storage | – Once opened, it should be kept in an air-tight glass container in a dark, dry, cool place. – Can be stored with the rest of the spices and herbs in your pantry. | – Once opened, it should be kept in an air-tight glass container in a dark, dry, cool place. – Can be stored with the rest of the spices and herbs in your pantry. |
More Insights Into Greek Seasoning vs Italian Seasoning…
As you see, these two seasoning blends have a significant difference in terms of their ingredients.
In fact, due to the vivid flavor profile of Greek seasoning, it is considered more versatile than Italian seasoning. And it can be used as an all-purpose seasoning over a wide variety of dishes.
On the other hand, since traditional Italian seasoning typically contains only five to six core herbs, you may need complementary ingredients for this blend when used with a particular dish.
However, Italian seasoning is particularly good to go with many classic Italian-American foods like pizza and various salads.
Conclusion
Both Italian and Greek seasoning blends are enriched with herbs, but Greek seasoning tends to be more flavorful with additional spices in it. Hence, Greek seasoning holds a depth of flavor and more intense taste notes than Italian seasoning working well in a wide variety of dishes.
