oregano/ sathra/ majorama mtamu

Dried Oregano is one amongst the most common of spices found in our kitchens today. I love using oregano in preparation of marinades and for meat rubs. Add a little bit of oil and a pinch of salt and garlic and you have a perfect rub for your Nyama choma (Barbecue meat).

Oregano is a culinary spice herb, belonging to the mint family. It is native to the Mediterranean region. Oregano has green leaves and purple flowers. Oregano has been cultivated for use in fork medicine for millennia and is now common in Italian, Tunisian and Spanish cuisines all of which are part of the Mediterranean region.

Known as majorama mtamu in Swahili, oregano varieties are named based on their countries of origin, e.g. Turkish, Spanish, and Italian. There are several varieties of oregano grown in Africa, they include: Hopleys, Kent Beauty, variegated oregano, Dittany of crete and Golden oregano. See oregano in Uganda

Oregano is easy to grow in our kitchen/ backyard herbs garden, as it requires little to no special treatment. It is also easy to dry and store. Like most mint family member plants, oregano comes back the next season bigger and stronger than the previous year.

Oregano is available as fresh leaves: as an essential oil and as dried leaves. It adds a strong pungent aroma when used in foods. Oregano is best used with chili in blends.

In culinary, oregano is used as a flavor enhancer in soups, marinades and stews. It is best used in its dried leaves state. Due to its pungency when used in this state, only a little should be added in food. If a recipe requires a tablespoon quantity of oregano spice, reduce that to just a teaspoon quantity.

Try out this lentils recipe and this one from Botswana

Health benefits of oregano.

• Aids in digestion as it has a good amount of fiber.
• Improves cardiovascular and bone health as it contains good amounts of vitamin K.
• It is an antioxidant, and a natural anti-inflammatory.
• Antibacterial, and can be added in homemade cleaning products.
• Anti-fungal thus will come in handy for people struggling with athlete foot.