Oregano or dried oregano: the calorie content and composition of the spice, how is the spice useful and are there any contraindications to its use. Which dishes to add seasoning to make their taste unforgettable. The benefits of dried oregano or oregano for the body are truly enormous, but you need to understand that the manifestation of beneficial effects is fully achieved only with regular use of the seasoning in food.
Harm and contraindications to the use of oregano
Unfortunately, not everyone can appreciate the unique beneficial properties of oregano. Some people cannot use seasoning. Among those for whom the spice is contraindicated:
- Pregnant women … We said above that oregano is extremely beneficial for women's health, but it also has pronounced abortive properties, and therefore is prohibited during pregnancy.
- People with bleeding disorders … If you have diseases for which the risk of bleeding is relevant, you should refuse to use the seasoning. Also, if you have surgery, you should stop eating the spice a couple of weeks before it.
- Diabetics … Oregano can lead to a sharp drop in blood sugar, and therefore the use of the seasoning is clearly dosed - you can add it to food, but rarely and in small quantities.
- Allergy sufferers … Spice is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance to the components. The likelihood of an allergic reaction to oregano is high if you are allergic to basil, mint, sage, marjoram, lavender.
Almost all seasonings are contraindicated for people with serious heart and gastrointestinal diseases. The list of prohibited spices, depending on the case, may include oregano.
Recipes with dried oregano
Oregano is a versatile seasoning that can make almost any dish tastier and more interesting. The spice occupies a special place in the Mediterranean cuisine. Pasta, lasagna, pizza - all these signature Italian dishes are certainly flavored with oregano. In addition, many soups, any meat dishes, especially baked ones, harmoniously complement the spice. The spice is also combined with fish, salads. It is often used for canning and for making various sauces and marinades.
An important condition for using dried oregano in recipes is minimal heat treatment. That is, the spice must be put into the dish a couple of minutes before cooking, otherwise most of the nutrients will be "killed". So, in what dishes is it better to add oregano:
- Vegetarian pasta with thyme and oregano … Chop 12 cherry tomatoes in half, chop garlic (2 cloves) and fresh thyme (1 bunch). Heat olive oil or vegetable oil in a deep frying pan, add all prepared ingredients at once and simmer for 5-7 minutes. Boil your favorite pasta (150 grams). Transfer it to a frying pan, add oregano (2 teaspoons), mix everything thoroughly and turn off the heat after a minute.
- Turkey in Italian … Cut turkey fillet (500 grams) into long strips, roll in flour and fry in vegetable oil. Add finely chopped onions (2 pieces), tomatoes (4 pieces), garlic (2-3 prongs) to the meat. Simmer all together for 15-20 minutes. Add sour cream (100 grams), oregano (1 teaspoon), salt and pepper to taste. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. By the way, in this recipe, tomatoes can be replaced with a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste.
- Pickled cheese … Dice the suluguni cheese (500 grams). Prepare the marinade: combine garlic (2 prongs), oregano, cumin, coriander, paprika, basil (pinch each), vinegar (1 tablespoon), juice of half a lemon. Combine the marinade with cheese, then pour olive or vegetable oil (150 ml). It is important to add the spices first, then the oil. Pickled cheese must be removed to a dark place and insisted at room temperature for 3 days in a closed jar.
- Original appetizer of tomatoes and honey … Cut the tomatoes into 4-6 pieces. Combine honey (1 teaspoon), vinegar (2 tablespoons), garlic (2 prongs), oregano (1 teaspoon), salt and pepper to taste. Heat the mixture slightly and pour over the tomatoes. After an hour, the snack can be served.
- Potato focaccia … Mix milk (150 ml), sugar (1 teaspoon), dry yeast (12 grams), let the mixture brew for 10-15 minutes. Boil potatoes (2 pieces), mash them in mashed potatoes, pour the prepared mixture into it, add flour (500 grams), vegetable oil (3 tablespoons), oregano (1 tablespoon). Leave the dough to sit and then roll it straight out on the baking sheet into a flat pancake. Let the pancake rise a little and bake at 200 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Greek salad … Peel the cucumbers (2 pieces) and cut into semicircles. Cut tomatoes (2 pieces) and bell peppers (1 piece) into cubes. Chop 1 red onion into thin half rings. Cut the feta cheese (300 grams) into large cubes. Mix all vegetables, add whole olives (10 pieces), olive oil, oregano (1 teaspoon), salt.
If you want to enhance the beneficial effect of the spice on the body, we recommend not only adding it to dishes, but also drinking an infusion of oregano. Despite the fact that this drink has a slightly bitter taste, it is pleasant and easy to drink. However, if the bitterness does not suit you, you can always soften it by adding other herbs - mint, chamomile, as well as dried berries or honey.
Interesting facts about oregano
Oregano is the oldest spice, it was mentioned already in the 1st century AD in his manuscripts by the Greek scientist Dioscorides, who was studying the beneficial properties of various herbs.
The name "oregano" is made up of two Greek words: "oros" - mountains, "ganos" - shine, ornament. These words were chosen for the name of the spice for a reason, in Greece the plant grows in the mountains, and during the flowering period the slopes become shiny, glossy, covered with an elegant flowering carpet.
The list of foods consumed by the Roman nobility, compiled by the gourmet Caelius Apicius, includes many spices, but oregano, thyme and cumin are distinguished in a special way.
In ancient times, oregano was called the herb of love. Although it would be more correct to call it the herb of fidelity. When describing the benefits of the spice, we wrote that it dampens excessive sexual activity. In the old days, all women knew about this property of the seasoning and understood how to use it to discourage husbands from going to the side.
In Germany, oregano is called "sausage herb" because it is often used in the production of famous German sausages and other meat products. Today the spice is used not only in cooking and herbal medicine, but also in the manufacture of cosmetics. Oregano often becomes a component of soaps, toothpastes, make-up and perfume.
Watch a video about dried oregano:
Oregano is an amazingly healthy spice, a powerful natural antibiotic. If you still haven't used the spice in your kitchen, it's time to start adding oregano to various dishes. Today you can buy a spice in any supermarket, and it is quite inexpensive. However, do not forget to check if you have any contraindications to the use of the seasoning.
