Quebec-Style Herbes Salees (Salted Preserved Herbs) Recipe

By
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Peggy Trowbridge Filippone is a writer who develops approachable recipes for home cooks. Her recipes range from Grandma’s favorites to the latest food trends.
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Updated on 05/20/21
Quebec-Style Herbes Salees (Salted Preserved Herbs) in a bowl with a spoon

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Refrigerate: 336 hrs
Total: 336 hrs 15 mins
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
396 Calories
7g Fat
91g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories 396
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 30495mg 1,326%
Total Carbohydrate 91g 33%
Dietary Fiber 47g 167%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 184mg 922%
Calcium 2170mg 167%
Iron 42mg 236%
Potassium 3512mg 75%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Herbes salées, or fresh herbs and vegetables preserved in salt, are a traditional Quebec seasoning or condiment. The salty, flavorful combination of fresh herbs is often used to season soups, particularly pea soup in French Canada, but they can also be used to season sauces, stews, dressings, or any meal that inspires you. There is no universal or "official" recipe for herbes salées across the region. In fact, the ingredients may vary by family tradition or simply by what the home cook has on hand that day. This recipe is the perfect excuse for planting your own herb garden to have fresh, and salted, herbs year-round!

While herbes salées are extremely easy to make, be sure to plan ahead to account for the refrigeration time. The herbs must be allowed to sit and infuse in the cold refrigerator for about two weeks before they are ready to use.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh chives

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh savory

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley fresh

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh chervil

  • 1 cup grated carrots

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped celery leaves

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped green onions

  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup coarse salt

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Quebec-Style Herbes Salees (Salted Preserved Herbs) ingredients on a wooden cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. In a large bowl, combine chopped chives, savory, parsley, chervil, carrots, celery leaves, and green onions.

    Chopped chives, savory, parsley, chervil, carrots, celery leaves, and green onions in a glass bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Layer 1 inch of herb mixture in the bottom of a crock or glass bowl and sprinkle with some of the salt.

    Herbs and salt in a jar

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Repeat layers until all of the herb mixture and salt is used. Cover and refrigerate for 2 weeks.

    Herbs and salt in a closed jar

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  5. After 2 weeks, drain off accumulated liquid and pack herb mixture into sterilized jars. Refrigerate until ready to use.

    Quebec-Style Herbes Salees (Salted Preserved Herbs) in a jar with a lid

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Many claim that their herbes salées keep for up to a year in the refrigerator. 

Cook's Note: Perhaps the most important thing for this recipe is the use of fresh herbs. Dried herbs are not only not a good substitute, but they will not preserve in the salt and release their flavor and moisture as fresh herbs do. In fact, using fresh herbs is more important than the herbs themselves. Try a mixture of the herbs you have in your garden or are available at your grocery store or farmer's market. You can try adding, fresh oregano, onion, shallots or even leeks, spinach, and swiss chard. You may be amazed at the combinations you can create with a little imagination.

Author's Note: "Herbs preserved with vegetables and salt make a lively seasoning for soups-particularly pea soup - sauces, stews and omelettes. A commercial brand, Les Herbes Salees du bas du fleuve, is marketed by J.Y. Roy of St. Flavie, Quebec. This recipe comes from the Metis district." - Chef Julian Armstrong
Recipe Source: A Taste of Quebec by Julian Armstrong (Hippocrene Books)
Reprinted with permission.