Parsley
Is very common in the Middle Eastern Europe and American cooking, people use the leafs in much the same way as coriander (which is known as Chinese parsley or cilantro). There are two forms of parsley curly or Italian or flat leaf. Curly parsley is usually used as a garnish. The flat leaf has a stronger flavor due to the high levels of essential oils. There is another type of parsley grown as a root vegetables, it is commonly used in Central or Eastern European cuisines where they use it in soups and stews it looks like a parsnips but does not tastes the same.
Cultivation
Parsley germination is very difficult, tales have been told that the lengeth of the germinations was slow because the seeds had to travel to hell and back several times before they could grow. Soaking the seeds in water over night will speed up the germination periods it us ususally 3-6 weeks. Parsley grows well in a deep pot, which helps accommodate the long taproot. Parsley grown indoors requires at least five hours of sunlight a day. Parsley is a key ingredent in West Asain salads such as tabbauleh. In Southern and Central Europe parsley is part of a bouquet garni (which a bundle of fresh herbs tied together) which is usually put in soups, stocks or sauces for flavor. It is also used a garnish.
Medical Uses
People also use parsley for medical uses. Chinese and German herbologish recemmond parsley tea to help control high blood pressure. Cherokee Indians use parsley as a tonic to help strengthen the bladder. When crushed and rubbed on the skin parsley can reduce itching in a mosquito bites. Parsley should not be used by pregnant women the oils in the parsley can lead to early preterm labor.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Oregano
Oregano
Oregano or Pot Marjoram is a native to Europe the Mediterranean region and southern and Central Asia. This is a perennial herb that grows about 20-80 cm tall with opposite leaves 1-4 cm long. The flowers are a purple color 3-4 mm long, they produce an erect spike.
Cultivation and Uses
Oregano is an important herb in Greek and Italian cuisine. It is the leaves that are used in cooking dried herbs are usually more flavorful than fresh. It is commonly used in Tomato sauces, fried vegetables and in grilled meats. Together with basil it makes up a lot of the Italian dishes. This herb combines nicely with all sorts of foods like picked olives, capers. Unlike other Italian herbs it can be combines with hot and spicy foods, which is very popular in Southern Italy.
It has an aromatic warm and slightly bitter taste. It also varies in intensity; good quality is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue, but Oregano that is cultivated in colder climates has an unsatisfactory flavor. A closely related plant is marjoram it differs in taste because phenolic compounds are missing in their essential oils, gold marjoram equals gold oregano. The most popular dish made with Oregano is pizza. According to the legend, the first pizza was made in 1889 when King Umberto and wife Margherita when they arrived in Naples. At this time, white bread flavoured with tomato paste was a popular food for the poor masses. honour the queen, a local baker devised a richer pie. In addition to the red tomato paste, white mozzarella cheese and green basil leaves were employed to reflect the colours of the Italian flag. This invention became known as pizza Margherita and spread all over Italy and now, over the rest of the world.
Health Benefits
Oregano is high in antioxidants due to the high contacts of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Oregano has demonstrated it has antimicrobial activity against food borne pathegons. In the Philippians oregano is not used for cooking but used as a primarily medicinal plant, it us used for relieving coughs in children.
Other Plants called Oregano
Mexican Oregano stems for the plant called Lippa gaveolens which is closely related to lemon verbena it is a highly studied herb some say it is used in medical uses and it is common used in Curandera (a folk healer or a shaman in Hispanic-American it is dedicated to curing physical and or spiritual healing). Mexican oregano has a very similar flavour, albeit stronger. It is increasingly traded, especially in the United States.
Oregano or Pot Marjoram is a native to Europe the Mediterranean region and southern and Central Asia. This is a perennial herb that grows about 20-80 cm tall with opposite leaves 1-4 cm long. The flowers are a purple color 3-4 mm long, they produce an erect spike.
Cultivation and Uses
Oregano is an important herb in Greek and Italian cuisine. It is the leaves that are used in cooking dried herbs are usually more flavorful than fresh. It is commonly used in Tomato sauces, fried vegetables and in grilled meats. Together with basil it makes up a lot of the Italian dishes. This herb combines nicely with all sorts of foods like picked olives, capers. Unlike other Italian herbs it can be combines with hot and spicy foods, which is very popular in Southern Italy.
It has an aromatic warm and slightly bitter taste. It also varies in intensity; good quality is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue, but Oregano that is cultivated in colder climates has an unsatisfactory flavor. A closely related plant is marjoram it differs in taste because phenolic compounds are missing in their essential oils, gold marjoram equals gold oregano. The most popular dish made with Oregano is pizza. According to the legend, the first pizza was made in 1889 when King Umberto and wife Margherita when they arrived in Naples. At this time, white bread flavoured with tomato paste was a popular food for the poor masses. honour the queen, a local baker devised a richer pie. In addition to the red tomato paste, white mozzarella cheese and green basil leaves were employed to reflect the colours of the Italian flag. This invention became known as pizza Margherita and spread all over Italy and now, over the rest of the world.
Health Benefits
Oregano is high in antioxidants due to the high contacts of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Oregano has demonstrated it has antimicrobial activity against food borne pathegons. In the Philippians oregano is not used for cooking but used as a primarily medicinal plant, it us used for relieving coughs in children.
Other Plants called Oregano
Mexican Oregano stems for the plant called Lippa gaveolens which is closely related to lemon verbena it is a highly studied herb some say it is used in medical uses and it is common used in Curandera (a folk healer or a shaman in Hispanic-American it is dedicated to curing physical and or spiritual healing). Mexican oregano has a very similar flavour, albeit stronger. It is increasingly traded, especially in the United States.
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