I’ve found Oregano an easy herb to grow and have grown it in the ground as well as in pots. I prefer a large pot for Oregano as it can grow quite fast and can spread through other herbs and take over!

Oregano likes a nice sunny position and can be planted by using seeds or cuttings from your local Plant Nursery. It doesn’t take much tending to either which is another reason why I like it so much as well as the fact that all the garden pests leave it alone. Depending on the weather, a light watering once a week is usually enough. I only trim my oregano once the small flowers start to bud. This helps to continue the growth of the leaves and keep the plant bushy as well as preventing it from going to seed. By doing this your oregano will grow all year long.

When I cook with oregano I cut a few sprigs from the plant and pull the leaves from it. Because the leaves are small you can use them whole or roughly chop them. If you don’t like the texture of the leaves you can ground them with a mortar and pestel along with a dash of olive oil to make a paste. Oregano goes well with most foods and I use it in beef, chicken and fish dishes as well as salads. It’s also goes great with pizza and tomato based pasta dishes.

Here’s a quick and easy family favourite recipe.

Spaghetti with fresh tomato and oregano
Feeds 4 people

• 1 clove of garlic crushed
• 1 large onion finely diced
• 4 large tomatoes diced roughly
• Olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of fresh oregano leaves
• 2 chilies seeded and sliced (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste


Heat a little oil in a pan and fry the garlic, chili and onion until soft. Add the tomatoes and oregano and a healthy splash of olive oil. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the tomatoes start to soften. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Place spoonfuls over spaghetti and you’re done.

Herbed Garlic Bread
• 1 French Bread Stick
• Softened butter or margarine
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano leaves


Using a mortar and pestel, grind the garlic and oregano to a paste. Add to some softened butter/margarine and spread over the bread stick. Wrap the breadstick in some aluminum foil and cook in the oven for 10 minutes or until crisp.

Enjoy!

article submitted by Kirstie Ibrahim
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