Gifts from Greece and a question

[Kim Shook]

A friend came back from Greece with some gifts for us - fig jam:

 

Olive Oil:

 

And oregano:

My question is what to do with the oregano.  My gut feeling is to put it in a big plastic bag, beat the hell out of it and put the resulting leaves in a jar, leaving out the stems.  What say you all?

[liuzhou]

Dry it. From your picture I'm guessing it is already dry. If so, I'd rub the leaves off and keep them in a jar, as you suggest. I'm less sure about the bashing in a plastic bag part.

 

Quote

Oregano has a little secret: It is one of the only herbs that tastes so good dried that you would use it, even if a fresh version is available.

 

kitchn

Edited June 1, 2019 by liuzhou (log)

[JoNorvelleWalker]

27 minutes ago, Kim Shook said:

A friend came back from Greece with some gifts for us - fig jam:

 

Olive Oil:

 

And oregano:

My question is what to do with the oregano.  My gut feeling is to put it in a big plastic bag, beat the hell out of it and put the resulting leaves in a jar, leaving out the stems.  What say you all?

 

As it happens I was just reading Lidia Bastianich's Mastering the Art of Italian Cooking*, the very page (p27) where she discusses dried oregano:

 

"I recommend buying dried oregano on the branch....  To use in recipes, pull out one branch, and over a piece of parchment or wax paper, rub it lightly between your palms....  The branches will last until you use the final leaf if kept in a dry place."

 

 

*which was waiting on my doorstep when I got home.

 

[ElsieD]

I would not pound it.  The stems are nasty.

[suzilightning]

my friend, Joyce, dries her oregano in a bunch, hanging it in her kitchen from a coat rack with other dried herbs.  She pulls it down and rubs off what she needs until the sorry, thin stems are left nude.

More importantly what are you going to do with the fig jam!!!!  Crostini with goat cheese and jam?

[heidih]

As @suzilightning says - just run your finger down a stem or two when you want to use. Bashing or de-stemming and putting in jar will release oils - those lovely ones you want to save for time of use.  If dry - pastic bag works. How I store my bulk Mexican oregano. 

 

Oh on the fig jam - have not experimented but I hear that bay leaves compliment. "Food for thought" 

Edited June 1, 2019 by heidih (log)