I have bought fresh oregano for my herb garden as it is a herb I use a lot for cooking (dried).
I was wondering if you can use fresh oregano in cooking or if you have to dry it.
It doesn't smell very much (the plant).
Does anyone know whether you can use it fresh? If so, any recipe ideas?
If not, how do you dry it?
2007-11-30 07:16:22 · 5 answers · asked by dubie 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
Fresh herbs ... YUM! So much better than dried! Sure, just rinse it and dry it off ... strip the stems and (if you wish) chop it or crush it up with your hands. Use lots, too, because the flavor isn't as strong as dried.
Parsley, basil, rosemary, etc. All these can be used the same way. Very healthy, too. When your herb plants start producing more than you can use, you can also freeze the herbs. Just give them a rinse, dry them off, and toss them in a plastic bag. They'll keep awhile in the freezer.
Another great use for fresh herbs is to make flavored butter. Soften a stick of butter and add some chopped fresh herbs, as much or little as you like, any combination that you like! Great on things like fish, baked potatoes, pasta etc. and for cooking with.
2007-11-30 08:32:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, use it fresh! It's even better than dried. Just pick a stem and then "strip" it by running your fingers down the stem. The stem itself is a little woody. Use 3 times as much fresh as you would for dry...same as other fresh vs. dry herbs. And unless your winter is really harsh, your oregano will be back next year also.
Enjoy your fresh oregano. It's one of many herbs in my garden!
2007-11-30 07:23:13 · answer #2 · answered by Dottie R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's great fresh, you don't have to dry. Use twice as much as you would dried; the oils will come out and it will smell more like the dried as it cooks. Put in near the end of cooking--slightly different but more "fresh" flavor. Great with pasta primavera.
2007-11-30 07:20:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anna P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fresh herbs are so very wonderful. They give your food a great big POP and add so much more flavor (in my opinion) than dried. I usually use dried, because that is what I have most of. But if you have it fresh USE IT! YUM, and enjoy!
2007-11-30 07:21:11 · answer #4 · answered by BopMom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fresh oregano is better then dreid but when your oregano plant gets bigger you can take bunches and hang it up to dry,and use it as you need it. i find that oregano fresh is really good in marinades and dry is better in stews and things.
2007-11-30 07:24:22 · answer #5 · answered by jasdar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋