2 Healthy and Delicious Oregano Recipes

Oregano is an aromatic and flavorful spice useful in countless recipes. In addition to being delicious, it is a healthy antioxidant. You can cultivate the herb in your flower garden or in containers, and given the right conditions it grows abundantly. Herbs accentuate many foods with their pungent flavors that diffuse through the recipe. The following are 2 recipes featuring oregano that are both healthy and delicious. Good recipes are available; one simply must look for them and perform a little culinary experimentation.

2 Healthy and Delicious Oregano Recipes

Although each of these recipes has a primary ingredient, they feature oregano as a prominent spice. The flavor of the herb cuts through and permeates the entire concoction. They would not be the same without oregano.

Oregano and Orange Dressing

This is a simple and easy-to-make dressing that blends the flavors of oregano and orange. Use it on salads or even as a marinade.

• ½ teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
• ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh chopped oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

To make the dressing, put the ingredients in jar, cover and mix thoroughly. It is ready for use immediately, or you can make it and store in the refrigerator for a week. Per 2 tablespoon serving, the dressing has only 27 calories and 2 grams of unsaturated fat.

Grilled Chard and Fava Beans

This recipe combines hearty fava beans with colorful and delicious rainbow Swiss chard. An extremely healthy recipe, oregano adds its powerful flavor to the mixture.

• 2 – 2 ½ lbs. rainbow Swiss chard stems (cut off leaves, steam later)
• 1 cup fava beans
• 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 teaspoons oregano (freshly chopped)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Pinch each of salt and pepper

The first step is to blanch the chard stems and the fava beans separately in boiling water for no more than 3 minutes each. After they have been blanched separately, place them in an ice bath. In the grill pan, place 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper and grill the chard for no more than 7 minutes. Remove and set aside, then use the remaining olive oil to grill the minced garlic for 1 minute. Add the fava beans, oregano and chard back to the fire and stir until complete. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice and more salt and pepper to taste. Instead of a grill, sautéing on a stovetop works just as well.

These are but two recipes that feature oregano prominently in the mix. Both healthy and delicious, they can be completed in a matter of minutes. The oregano and orange dressing can be mixed up and stored in the refrigerator for a week and used on nightly salads, while the grilled chard and fava bean recipe makes an excellent light meal or side dish. Don’t let your homegrown herbs grow without purpose. There are many ways you can put them to use in pursuit of culinary delights.