Oregano (oregano) is a very aromatic herb with a refreshing and very bright oily-spicy taste. The smell is rich, tart, easily recognizable. Oregano leaves may also have a slightly pungent flavor, depending on growing conditions.
Oregano is most commonly used in Italian and Mediterranean dishes, be it pizza or tomato sauce. And in Mexican cuisine, this herb occupies a very honorable place - in Mexico, oregano is used to add flavor to almost any food. In France, oregano is an indispensable ingredient of the spicy mixture of Provence herbs known to the whole world, and no real Frenchman can imagine the famous ratatouille without oregano. The French must add oregano to numerous meat pates and sausages.
The aroma of oregano goes very well with egg dishes, especially omelet. This herb is also widely used in salads, most prominently when combined with sweet tomatoes or cucumbers. Try replacing the usual dill in the salad with oregano leaves - we guarantee that the result will simply stun you. In general, in almost any tomato dish, this herb will be very appropriate.
And how magically the taste of vegetable canapes will be transformed if you put oregano leaves on skewers! Or take oregano as a burger condiment for a brighter, fresher flavor for a long-loved meal. One or two tablespoons of oregano added to the minced meat will get your party guests seriously wondering what your secret cooking ingredient might be.
Oregano is just perfect for seasoning pasta dishes and most foods that contain olive oil. For a versatile dressing, simply combine oregano with chopped basil, garlic, onion, or thyme.
Oregano is also suitable for many sauces, especially for meat and fish dishes. What about pesto? Basil isn't the only herb in the garden when it comes to making pesto! Oregano will make the pesto especially strong and salty. Serve it with salad, fried vegetables, or tortillas. The result will amaze everyone!
In soups, it can be used to dress strong vegetable and meat soups or cream soups such as cream of potatoes or tomato.
Oregano is perfect with chicken - fried, baked, boiled or grilled - cook the chicken any way you want - oregano can make this dish taste even better. You can add seasoning to meat in any way convenient for you - dried or freshly chopped - in the marinade, or whole branches - inside the chicken.
Oregano plus beans is a union made in heaven. Chop a few tablespoons of fresh oregano and add it to the pot with homemade beans or other legume congeners for the last fifteen minutes of cooking. You have no idea what a delicious aroma your dish will fill!
Bread or oregano dinner rolls - you will love both the taste and the aroma! This herb can be added alone or with other fresh herbs. Simply chop a few tablespoons of fresh oregano into small pieces and knead them directly into the bread dough.
Oregano goes well with seafood. Whole sprigs of oregano and rosemary can be placed along with a few large basil leaves in a seafood steamer. Such an ensemble of herbs will give the shrimp an extraordinary and delicious herbal flavor.
Oregano will enrich and decorate freshly squeezed vegetable juices: carrot, beetroot, pumpkin, celery, as well as add sophistication and originality to any sweet fruit and berry tastes, including a variety of smoothies.
Oregano is also a wonderful companion of the tea leaf.It can be brewed with tea or in pure form, or you can make numerous fragrant compositions for tea drinking, combining oregano with thyme, oregano with basil, oregano with lemon balm or mint. You should not combine more than two components, the taste will not benefit from this, but will suffer. If you like more "calm" scents, you can combine oregano with nettle or chamomile. The smell will be more moderate, and the benefits will simply go off scale!
The preservative properties of this spice, which are due to the tannins that make up its composition, are also highly valued. Thanks to oregano, pickles acquire a pleasant aroma and are better stored.
One of the important uses of oregano is the aromatization of grape wines. It is also used in the manufacture of liqueurs and liqueurs, as well as in the brewing industry.
Both fresh leaves and dried leaves are used as an aromatic seasoning, flowers are also edible.
Unlike most spices, which lose their aroma when dried, the aroma of oregano increases significantly when dried and is better revealed when cooking. In addition, unlike many other aromatic herbs, oregano can be added to a dish at an early stage of preparation, since it does not lose its aroma during heat treatment.
In Mediterranean countries, oregano is used not only as a spice that enhances the taste of all kinds of dishes, but also as a natural additive that allows you to preserve the freshness of the product for much longer. For example, kvass or beer, to which oregano is added, have a wonderful aroma and do not sour for quite a long time.
Oregano Cooking Recipes:
- Bread with tomatoes and herbs
- Shrimps in tomato sauce with feta cheese
- Buns "Parrots with herbs"
- Turkish eggplant stuffed with turkey
- Shish-tauk from chicken breasts
- Grapefruit and avocado salad with lime sauce
- Chili con carne of red beans with minced meat
- Mexican fried eggs
- Greek beef meatballs
- Cheesecake with tomatoes and spices
- Assorted beans salad with orange dressing and cilantro
- Fried tilapia with mango and tomatillo salsa
- Chicken legs with tomato and fruit "Mexican style"
- Fish pizza with olives, basil and oregano
- Mexican Christmas Turkey Salad
- Salad with pasta, artichoke and feta cheese
- Spicy chickpea cutlets with zucchini and sauce
- Pork shashlik with apricots, cherry tomatoes and herbs
How to choose the best oregano
When choosing fresh oregano in the market or in a store, give preference to those specimens that have a pungent and tart aroma, bright green juicy leaves without yellowing and dark spots, as well as hard stems. Plants with large leaves and large spaces between leaves are mostly of inferior quality. When choosing oregano for salad, take bunches made of foliage, and for tea it is better to take flowering bouquets.
After purchasing fresh oregano, wrap it in a damp towel or napkin and place it in the refrigerator. To keep the oregano longer, you can freeze the leaves in ice cubes or airtight bags. It is advisable to freeze whole leaves, and cut them before cooking. If you have not found fresh oregano and purchased a dry spice, then you should also take care of its proper storage. Pour dry oregano into a glass or porcelain sealed container and place in a cool place. Thus, the herb will retain its properties and aroma for six months.
Read also articles:
- Growing oregano
- Propagation of oregano
- Popular varieties of oregano
- Useful properties of oregano
