Herb Use - Oregano

Oregano (Italian pronunciation orr-EE-ga-no) OreganoVulgare is the number one herb to flavour tomatoes for pizza sauce.  Oregano, often called wild Marjoram, is a fragrant herb that belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is widely cultivated worldwide for its culinary and medicinal uses. Oregano is known for its aromatic leaves, commonly used as a seasoning in various cuisines.

A common mistake in this country is the purchase of fresh oregano from stores, this is sold in blister packets in the herb section. Its only use in my honest opinion, is as decoration of a dish. It is not the herb sold dried and used in culinary situations. As a chef with forty-plus years in the Italian restaurant trade, I have never used or seen the leaves used in the kitchen. The reason is they are too weak in flavour. The part of the plant used is the flower heads, but more on that later.

Growing oregano can be through sowing seed in a good gritty or sandy soil mix, or even better acquiring a small piece of an already growing plant. You could even buy a packet of the aforementioned store oregano, snip the stem to a fresh part then remove the lower leaves and plant as a cutting. Once established you will find it a tough plant that can survive well and spread easily. Division to create new plants is by simply tearing a clump from beneath to preserve the roots and planting on.

Harvesting (the important bit) is done from late June to September. Wait till they are in full flower on a sunny day, then cut posies or bunches, tie them with some string or twine then hang them in your kitchen or a warm cupboard for around 3-4 weeks. Once dry, pop into a large paper bag and taking one bunch at a time roll vigorously between your palms to free the dried flowers. This is your herb ready to store in an airtight jar for the coming year and can be used immediately. The smell of this process is amazing.

In the kitchen its uses are many. As previously mentioned it is the main flavour to change canned tomatoes or passata into pizza sauce. Try generously sprinkling over seasoned potatoes or vegetables before roasting for a wonderful flavour. A famous Italian dish is 'Steak Pizzaiola', season the pan grill a steak to your liking. Then deglaze the pan with a little white wine, some crushed tomatoes, seasoning and a generous pinch of oregano. Then simmer to reduce a little and serve over the steak. Equally good with chicken, pork or lamb.