Fenugreek is a part of the Fabaceae family. It’s an annual plant with leaves consisting of 3 small obovate to oblong leaflets. It’s cultivated all around the world as a semiarid crop. The oil showed “significant antibacterial activity” against 11 such microbes. This suggests that substances in oregano could play a role in fighting diseases that no longer respond to antibiotics. Donna, over at Whole Food Bellies, has the lowdown on making oregano pesto, and she’s even got substitutions to make it vegan and allergen friendly. 3. Oregano Infused Vinegar I might have a slight obsession with putting things in vinegar. Fresh basil tends to be stronger in flavor, however, dried basil is more convenient to have in your store cupboard. Dried basil will also need less maintenance!

While oregano itself is not an antioxidant, it does have antioxidant properties. Lab studies conducted in 2016 and 2017 quantified significant antioxidant activity in oregano whose active ingredients were extracted into ethanol. And a 2017 study out of China found that oils taken from oregano leaves and flowers were more potent antioxidants than those from the stems or roots. Oregano and Cancer Lippia graveolens, Mexican oregano, known in Spanish as orégano cimarrón ('wild oregano'), is not in the mint family, but in the related vervain family (Verbenaceae). The flavor of Mexican oregano has a stronger savory component instead of the piney hint of rosemary-like flavor in true oregano, and its citrus accent might be more aromatic than in oregano. It is becoming more commonly sold outside of Mexico, especially in the southeastern United States. It is sometimes used as a substitute for epazote leaves. Garlic bread: Substitute the dried herbs in my ciabatta garlic bread for 2 teaspoons of homemade Italian seasoning. If you could distill the taste of Italian Seasoning into a single ingredient, it would be oregano. Other herbs play their part, but oregano’s zesty, earthy verve makes it an essential flavor across not just Italy, but the entire Mediterranean. Whether you sprinkle it over pizza, stir it into salads, rub it on steaks, or drink it as an herbal tea, there are so many ways to love oregano!

What Is Oregano?

Al Dhaheri, Y., et al. (2013). Anti-metastatic and anti-tumor growth effects of Origanum majorana on highly metastatic human breast cancer cells: Inhibition of NFκB signaling and reduction of nitric oxide production. Drying of the plant material affects both quantity and distribution of volatile compounds, with methods using higher heat and longer drying times having greater negative impact. A sample of fresh whole plant material found to contain 33 g/kg dry weight (3.1 g/kg wet) decreased to below a third after warm-air convection drying. Much higher concentrations of volatile compounds are achieved towards the end of the growing season. [22] Other plants called "oregano" [ edit ] In case you don’t have dried oregano or you prefer using fresh ingredients rosemary will work just fine as a substitute. Use a similar measure of your substitute herb as the measure of oregano your recipe requires. 10. Bay leaf This seasoning makes everything you prepare taste much better. it can be used with pasta , garlic breads and pizzas . I even love to add this in my maggi .

In the fall, it will flower, giving pollinators something to nibble on. Not everything has to be grown with a myriad of uses in mind. You could grow this beautiful plant, just to enjoy its beauty in your landscape. The related species Origanum onites (Greece, Turkey) and O. syriacum (West Asia) have similar flavours. A closely related plant is marjoram from Turkey, which differs significantly in taste because phenolic compounds are missing from its essential oil. Some varieties show a flavour intermediate between oregano and marjoram. So, let’s take a look at a number of ways to use oregano besides sprinkling it on your pizza. As always, consult your physician before using any herb in a medical capacity. It also contains compounds like carvacrol that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. In one animal study, carvacrol reduced swelling in the paws of mice by up to 57% ( 16).

Appendix 7. Nutritional goals for age-sex groups based on dietary reference intakes and Dietary Guidelinesrecommendations. (2015). You might do this with other herbs where the herb’s flavor is subtle and easily broken down. But oregano is pungent enough to last over a long cooking time, so you can add it at a relatively early point in the cooking process. Of course, you may want to approach this in moderation, as oregano is rather intense. Must-read related posts

LaTonya M. Mitchell (22 September 2014). "Warning Letter: Young Living". Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration . Retrieved 7 October 2016. O. v. subsp. vulgare – widespread across Europe + Asia from Ireland to China; naturalized in North America + Venezuela Italian seasoning is one of those “do it all” blends that can add wonderful flavor to so many things! Don’t feel like you can only use it in Italian recipes, either: It's great in any dish that could use some oomph. Here are some ideas for how to use it:

Is Oregano an Antioxidant?

Pizza: Add bold flavor to phyllo pizza, grilled pizza, and eggplant pizza with a generous pinch of Italian seasoning. Oregano and other herbs provide antioxidants. Dietary antioxidants help the body eliminate free radicals, which are toxic substances that result from natural processes and environmental stresses. A buildup of free radicals can trigger oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can lead to cell damage that may result in various diseases, including cancer and diabetes. Compounds in oregano may help manage type 2 diabetes. Authors of a 2016 rodent study concluded that Origanum extract may help: One compound that will probably degrade no matter how you dehydrate your oregano is chlorophyll. And while you may have learned in biology class that only plants can photosynthesize, it now appears that humans can also participate in this amazing process by eating leafy greens and spending time in sunlight. For this reason, fresh oregano may be healthier overall than dried. When eaten raw, it can be super butter. However, when cooked and mixed with other spices and ingredients, it transforms and transforms your whole dish in a good way. 12. Ajwain leaves (carom)

Tair, Asma; Weiss, Erika-Krisztina; Palade, Laurentiu Mihai; Loupassaki, Sofia; Makris, Dimitris P.; Ioannou, Efstathia; Roussis, Vassilios; Kefalas, Panagiotis (2014). "Origanum species native to the island of Crete: in vitro antioxidant characteristics and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry identification of major polyphenolic components". Natural Product Research. 28 (16): 1284–7. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2014.896011. PMID 24635145. S2CID 42500633. Basically, anything with tomatoes deserves to have oregano added, even chili, which is anything but Mediterranean food.Marjoram and thyme both have such similar flavors to oregano that they make the perfect combination as a substitute. Try using these herbs together for the ultimate oregano substitution. Many subspecies and strains of oregano have been developed by humans over centuries for their unique flavours or other characteristics. Tastes range from spicy or astringent to more complicated and sweet. Simple oregano sold in garden stores as Origanum vulgare may have a bland taste and larger, less-dense leaves, and is not considered the best for culinary use, with a taste less remarkable and pungent. It can pollinate other more sophisticated strains, but the offspring are rarely better in quality. Not only can you use the plant to add flavor to your dishes – you can use the dill weed seeds to give it a bit of spice. An important factor to remember is that dried oregano must be used in a different quantity to its fresh variant. There are many different types of tarragon available, however, the variety used for cooking tends to be French tarragon.