Oregano

Common Name: Oregano

Botanical Name:Origanum vulgare

 

Place of origin: Oregano is native to the hills of the Mediterranean countries and western Asia and has naturalized in parts of Mexico and the United States. The herb has long been an essential ingredient of Mediterranean cooking and is widely used to season many foods.

Ideal growing conditions: Oregano grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. It will also grow in rocky soil, though. Native to the Mediterranean and Europe, oregano can thrive in areas with tough growing conditions. If you have swampy or heavy soil, plant oregano in a container or raised bed.

Parts of the Plant to use: Use scissors or garden shears to remove stems from the plant. Cut back to just above a growth node or set of leaves. This will allow the plant to branch from the cut area and produce more flavorful leaves. Rinse the stems lightly if there is dust or mulch on them

Benefits/Properties: Essential oils of oregano are widely recognized for their antimicrobial activity, as well as their antiviral and antifungal properties. Nevertheless, recent investigations have demonstrated that these compounds are also potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and cancer suppressor agents


Suggested Uses:

Some of the most common uses of oregano include tomato-centric recipes, like pizza and pasta sauce, as well as olive oil-based dishes. Oregano is commonly combined with olive oil to create flavorful oregano oil, Italian vinaigrette, and marinades for lamb, chicken, and beef dishes.

Culinary: 

 
  • 3 cups Fresh oregano Leaves only
  • 1 med White Onion finely diced
  • ¼ cup Olive Oil* extra virgin (to taste)
  • ½ cup Lemon juice fresh (to taste)
  • 1 pinch Salt to taste
 
 

1.Separate oregano leaves from stalks. Wash & dry thoroughly

2.In a mixing bowl, add fresh oregano leaves, finely diced onion, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and toss the salad together.

3.Serve.

Non-Culinary:

Oregano is also a headliner in health benefits with astronomical antioxidant properties. Its essential oil can be used topically for pain relief, it aids in relieving the symptoms of a number of health issues, and its volatile oils – thymol and carvacrol – have effective anti-bacterial properties.