Not all spices are the same. Some types of Oregano are good looking but tasteless. Know what you are buying and look for certified organic brands.
Oregano is certainly one of the must have’s in your kitchen and combines with basil and thyme as a cornerstone for the big three in Italian cooking. History records that oregano became popular when soldiers from the Second World War returned to the US and brought with them the taste for pizza, which is probably the most common dish associated with it as a herb.
When buying Oregano there are some things you need to know. It is closely associated with another herb – marjoram and is sometimes called wild marjoram. Generally speaking, the best of the oregano’s are sourced from the Mediterranean region of Greece, Turkey and Italy. It’s worth while to know where it is grown because some of the other locations and types of oregano just don’t work as well in the kitchen. Simple Oregano, often sold in garden stores and grown in patio boxes, may have wonderful ornamental value but taste bland.
Organic Oregano differs only in the way it is produced, which means it is grown without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers or often described as sourced from holistic and ecologically- friendly methods of farming. When shopping for anything organic be sure to look for “certified organic” on the label. To be certified organic, product must be grown and manufactured in a manner that adheres to specific standards. You may find that common dried oregano sold in grocery stores is often a mixture of different varieties of oregano and often combined with marjoram and thyme.
You may find, as I have from a culinary point of view, that the dried oregano adds more flavor than the fresh alternative, but either choice will bring wonderful flavor to most dishes. Add organic oregano to almost any tomato based receipt, or add to a salad, along with basil and thyme, and you will add wonderful mint flavor to the dish.
Try this very simple salad preparation when tomatoes are fresh: Slice the tomato evenly and layer it with your favorite cheese. The lovely white buffalo cheese is a traditional choice, but try use cottage cheese as a substitute. Sprinkle with oregano, basil and thyme. Fresh basil is the better choice, but the dried alternative works well too.
In the kitchen organic oregano is a major player and certainly a part of the big three in Italian cooking. Why choose organic…it’s a matter of taste!
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