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Seasoning blend . zest + herbs . fish and chicken duty

Lemon Herb.

Lemon pepper's gentler sibling: the zest stays, the herbs move in.

Type
Citrus-herb blend
Base
Zest + herbs
Ratio
2:3 zest to mixed herbs
Time
1 hr (zest drying)
Yield
6 tbsp
Quick answer

To make lemon herb seasoning, dry the zest of four lemons at 200 F until brittle, then mix two tablespoons of it with one tablespoon each of dried thyme, oregano, and dill, two teaspoons of garlic powder, one teaspoon of onion powder, a teaspoon of salt, and a half teaspoon of black pepper.

What it is

What is lemon herb?

Where lemon pepper is a two-voice blend, zest and heat, lemon herb is a small choir: the same real dried zest carrying thyme, oregano, and dill, with garlic and onion humming underneath. It reads lighter and greener, which is why it gravitates to the delicate half of the kitchen, fish fillets, chicken breasts, shrimp, spring vegetables, and anything cooked in parchment or foil.

The zest technique is identical to lemon pepper and worth mastering once for both jars: fresh zest, dried low and slow, keeps the fruit’s oils rather than its acid, so the blend tastes like lemon rather than sour powder. Everything else comes off the herb shelf.

The recipe

What goes in lemon herb?

2 tbsp
Dried lemon zest
×
1 tbsp
Thyme
×
1 tbsp
Oregano
×
1 tbsp
Dill

Two parts zest to three parts mixed herbs keeps the lemon audible without turning the jar into potpourri. Dill is the swing vote, it pushes the blend toward fish, swap it for rosemary and the jar leans chicken-and-potatoes instead.

Method

How do you make lemon herb?

  1. Zest the lemons, yellow only, and dry at 200 F for 50 to 70 minutes until it crumbles. Cool completely.
  2. Crumble the herbs between your palms into a bowl to even the texture.
  3. Whisk in the zest, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper.
  4. Jar it sealed and dark, peak flavor for two months.
  5. Use two teaspoons per pound of fish or chicken with olive oil, or a tablespoon over a tray of vegetables.
The parchment trick This blend was born for enclosed cooking. In a sealed packet the zest oils steam into the fish instead of toasting off, the single best ratio of effort to dinner in this vertical.
Cook's notes

What should you know before making lemon herb?

History

Where did lemon herb come from?

Lemon and herbs on fish is as old as Mediterranean shorelines, the jar just makes the pairing storable. Drying citrus peel for the pantry is centuries older than refrigeration, which is exactly why it works without any.

Derivatives

What can you make from lemon herb?

Lemon rosemary
Swap the dill for a tablespoon of crumbled rosemary, roast-chicken tuned.
Lemon herb salt
Grind the blend with two extra teaspoons of coarse salt for a rim-and-rub version.
Greek lean
Add a teaspoon of dried mint and it converges with the Greek seasoning jar.
FAQ

Common questions.

What is the difference between lemon herb and lemon pepper?

Lemon pepper is zest plus cracked pepper, a loud two-note blend for wings and grills. Lemon herb backs the same zest with thyme, oregano, and dill, quieter, greener, and better on delicate fish and vegetables.

Can I use fresh herbs instead?

Not in the jar, fresh herbs mold. For a fresh version, mix zest and chopped herbs per meal and use it within the day, the dried jar exists so you do not have to.

What do I cook with lemon herb seasoning?

White fish and salmon first, then chicken breasts, shrimp, asparagus, green beans, potatoes, and rice. Anywhere a lemon wedge and an herb sprig would have gone anyway.

Kyle Schulgen Founder, Speakeater
Builder of Speakeater, the cooking app that reads your fridge. Writes the recipe reference pages by hand, anchored in public-domain culinary sources.
Last updated: 2026-05-29

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