Growing herbs in your garden or window sill is a great way to be eco-friendly because you're avoiding the packaging waste of buying it from the store and keeping it super local. Not to mention it's healthier and tastier when fresh, plus it's much cheaper when grown at home. If you're used to cooking with dried oregano, you may not be sure what to do with it when fresh. Here are some ideas on how home-grown oregano can add great flavor to your food.
Oregano has a warm, balsamic taste. Native to Europe, this herb became popular in the US after World War 2 when servicemen came back raving about the delicious pizzas they had in Italy. Oregano also been part of Greek, Roman, and French traditions. There are several health benefits to oregano, from acting as an anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant to being a good source of fiber, calcium, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A.
Oregano adds fresh flavor to a variety of vegetable dishes. There are two types of this herb - Greek (Origanum heraclites) and Mexican (Lippia graveolens), and each are used in different ways to create specific flavors in dishes. Here are some ingredients oregano goes very well with:
- Beans
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Green beans
- Mushrooms
- Tomato
- Zucchini
Use your imagination (or a recipe) to create a great dish with oregano. You can start with a base of onion, garlic, salt & pepper, and add in the herb towards the end of the cooking process. Oregano also pairs well with basil and/or parsley. If you're still looking for inspiration, try the following:
- Toss it into salads and/or their dressings
- Use it as a garnish on soups
- Mix it into sauces (especially tomato based)
- Bake it into bread (makes a great focaccia and garlic bread)
- Add it on top of homemade pizza
- Infuse it into your favorite oil (delicious in olive oil)
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