From Field to Fork: Wild Oregano, it tastes like Summer

It may look like just another wildflower in the field, but it’s actually the herb that makes pizza taste unforgettable: oregano.🍕🌿

I went for a walk in June at Sicó (central Portugal), the fields were full of colors of different plant species and the light green Origanum vulgare, better known as oregano.

This wild member of the mint family grows in a variety of places: meadows, woodland edges, scrublands, roadside banks — thriving on many types of soil, though it shows a clear preference for basic, calcareous ones.

When the delicate white flowers appear, it’s the perfect time to harvest.

For the first time in my life this year, I filled a bag with flowering aerial stems. We have selected the young shoots with leaves and tiny flower clusters, where apparently the flavour and essential oils are at their peak.

Usually, the stems are tied into small bundles and hung upside down in a cool, shaded place. However, that wasn’t an option for me. Instead, I spread them out on a tray, covered them with paper towels, and gently turned them over for a week, making sure they dried evenly.

One week later they were ready to be stored!! Leaves were crumbled and stored in small jars, preserving the taste of summer for months to come 😋

My salads have been enriched with oreganos in the last couple of months.

This time I even brought them to the beach 🤭😄

What a glorious salad, kissed by oregano and seaside sunshine!

A sprinkle of oregano brightens fresh salads, enriches roasted vegetables, and, of course, remains one of the essential flavours of pizza. 🍃

👉 Have you ever come across wild oregano before tasting it on your plate?

Well, I must confess I haven’t always been a fan of oregano, it’s something I’ve learned to appreciate with age, just like wine, cheese, lentils, quinoa, fava beans, sushi, and all kinds of fish. By now, I Guess you probably get the idea😃

Enjoy your oregano, or any other fresh herbs you find in the countryside. Next year, I’ll be back to gather a new bunch of oregano and likely try thyme...I love them on the french fries:p