by Samantha Gordon
Health is wealth, right? Right! One way of prioritizing your overall health is to be mindful of what you eat daily. Incorporating foods and herbs that have natural healing properties will promote better heart, digestive and respiratory health, aid in the healing process that your body will go through if need be, and enhance your immune system. Oregano is just that, a herb that has natural healing properties.
Oregano is a flowering plant in the mint family and native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia. Oregano has also been naturalized in other parts of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including Mexico, the United States, and India. Oregano is a bold herb. A little of this herb will go a long way. It has a very pungent flavor with earthy, minty and pepper notes. When incorporated into cooked dishes, the flavor will tend to mellow out a bit, making for a tasty bite.
Oregano is hands down an antioxidant powerhouse. It is rich in healing properties and protects the body against damage.
6 ways oregano is rich in healing properties
- Immune system support– oregano contains compounds that help support the immune system, meaning protecting the body from common illnesses, infections and toxins.
- Antimicrobial properties– an antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth. Oregano contains these properties, helping to fight against bacteria, viruses and fungi, food poisoning, and urinary tract infections.
- Digestive health– oregano stimulates gastrointestinal secretions that promote/improve digestion, and alleviate bloat, gas and indigestion.
- Heart health– oregano contains properties that help reduce the risk of heart disease, regulate blood pressure, and improve cardiovascular health.
- Respiratory health– oregano improves asthma, cough, bronchitis, and sinus infections.
- Anti-inflammatory– oregano is effective at reducing inflammation in the body.
There are a few different ways to prepare oregano:
- Minced/chopped to garnish
- Boil to make tea (add honey and fresh lemon juice to make the perfect cup of tea)
- Oil of oregano (you can add to water or drinks)
I’m sure now you’re wondering how you can incorporate oregano into some of your food dishes without the herb being too overpowering. Well, I’ve got you covered. Here are some dishes that you can incorporate oregano into:
1. Vinaigrette
Oregano vinaigrette is great for fish, chopped salads, or even for marinating chicken or vegetables.
Here’s a simple ingredient list and how-to, that’s not time-consuming and tasty yummy.
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 ½ tsp dried oregano
1 tsp lemon zest
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp pepper, fresh ground
Add ingredients to the bowl, mix well and serve.
2. Cooked vegetables
Grilled vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, and cabbage pair well with oregano.
3. Tomato dishes
Tomato sauce and tomato salad are both easy to make and pair well with fresh oregano. Here’s a simple ingredient list and how-to, for the best oregano and tomato salad.
2 beefsteak tomatoes
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 pinch of kosher salt
1 pinch of ground black pepper
¾ tsp dried oregano
Cut tomatoes to your liking, add to a bowl, pour extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper(optional), mince and sprinkle oregano, toss well and serve.
4. Pasta dishes
Use oregano as a garnish, it’s the perfect finish.
5. Meat dishes (chicken/pork)
Using oil of oregano to marinate before cooking is the best way to incorporate oregano into your dishes. Here is a five-minute recipe for an oregano and lemon marinade.
4 tbsp fresh chopped oregano or 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
4 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Mix ingredients into a bowl, mix well.
6. Fish dishes
Oregano can be used as a garnish or you can use the oil of oregano to marinate (use the recipe above) your fish.
7. Pizza
Oregano is very common when baking pizza, as it adds a fresh flavor to pizza.
I challenge you to add a little oregano to the next dish that you prepare. Not only will it be tasty but your body will greatly appreciate and benefit from it. If you’re in the mood for even more oregano, check out these related articles.
