Oregano The Pizza Herb

Oregano (Orignum vulgare) is also called wild marjoram.

This herb can be a perennial or annual.

In some areas, oregano is known as the pizza herb. Oregano has oval leaves and the flowers are shades of pink to purple. It will grow widely and spread on underground stems. The leaves of the oregano make for a fine flavoring in spicy foods.

Although most varieties of oregano are perennials, it best that they be replaced every three years.

Sow seeds in partial shade in a dry location, in well drained soil, after the danger of frost has passed. Plants should spaced 18 to 20 inches apart.If plants are pinched back it will encourage bushiness. Debud the plants to keep them from flowering so new leaves will continue to appear. If you live in a cold climate, cover the plants in the fall with 2 to 3 inches of straw or leaf mulch, this will prevent winter kill.

Although, as mentioned before, it is also called marjoram. However, the leaves have a sharper flavor than sweet marjoram and taste a little of thyme. Use them fresh or dried in the same foods you would marjoram or thyme, especially Italian and Spanish or Mexican dishes.

Oregano, the " pizza herb" adds a zesty distinctive flavor to a variety of tomato and cheese dishes and to many meat, egg, pepper, and eggplant dishes as well.

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Cooking with oregano and/or marjoram, which has a milder, more delicate and refined flavor than oregano. Oregano is wilder and more astringent with a bold aroma, reminiscent of thyme's undertones of lemon and pepper. Both fresh marjoram and fresh oregano are in season in the summer while dried marjoram and dried oregano are available year-round.

Oregano has a strong flavor and can be used in many recipes, such as pizza and spaghetti sauce, baked chicken, with eggplant parmesan and many other Italian recipes, and even chicken noodle soup. Oregano dries well. If you are growing oregano and have plenty of fresh oregano, you may want to dry it and store it for future use.

To Dry Oregano

Cut the fresh stalks from your oregano plant, tie the stalks in bundles and hang the cut stalks upside down in a dry, warm and well-ventilated room. When the oregano stalks have dried there is far less than what you started with, so keep this in mind and cut, hang and dry plenty.

The stalks will need to hang and dry for at least a week. This method of drying takes some time but it is the best way to retain the full flavor of the oregano.

When the oregano stalks have completely dried , you will need to strip the leaves from the stalk by running your hand up and down the branch. You can do this over a cookie sheet to keep the leaves contained. You can then discard the stem.After you have collected the leaves, crumple them up with your fingers to make them powdery.Use a funnel to pour the leaves into airtight jars for storing.