Preparing fresh oregano for culinary use primarily involves separating the flavorful leaves from the stems and then chopping them.
Steps for Preparing Fresh Oregano
Here's how you can easily prepare fresh oregano:
- Start with Fresh Sprigs: Begin with clean, fresh oregano sprigs. It's often recommended to rinse them gently under cool water and pat them dry before proceeding.
- Hold the Stem: Grasp the top part of an oregano stem firmly with one hand.
- Remove the Leaves: Using the fingers of your other hand, pull down along the stem from top to bottom. This action helps to easily strip the small leaves from the woody stem. This is a key step as shown in the provided reference: "[Next with your fingers you're going to pull down and remove all the leaves from here]".
- Gather the Leaves: Collect all the leaves that have been removed from the stems. Discard the bare stems.
- Chop the Oregano: Once you have a pile of leaves, gather them together and chop them using a knife on a cutting board to your desired size. The reference confirms this is the next step: "[we can now chop The oregano and that is how you chop oregano.]". The fineness of the chop depends on your recipe – a rough chop is fine for sauces or marinades, while a finer chop might be preferred for garnishes or dressings.
Once chopped, your fresh oregano is ready to be added to various dishes, including pasta sauces, pizzas, salads, grilled meats, and more.
