How to Use Culinary Herbs: Marjoram

Anyone who enjoys cooking should master the art of using herbs. Fresh from the garden herbs add unbelievable flavor to home cooked foods, salad dressings, and teas.
Marjoram, although related to oregano, has a much milder and sweeter flavor. It is a crucial ingredient in German, French, Greek, and Italian cooking. Although it is traditionally considered a meat herb, marjoram enhances the flavor of any food, except sweets.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Bruising Herbs

   Season your food. Use on hamburger, meat loaf, chicken pot pie or casserole, fish dishes, or pork. Try in scrambled eggs or any vegetable, especially squash. Add a dash to tomato juice. Try a pinch in any type of soup, stew, or chowder.
   If you are using fresh marjoram, bruise it before adding it to your recipe. You do this by tearing the leaves, chopping them into small pieces, or mashing them with the back of a spoon. Marjoram loses flavor quickly with heat, so add it near the end of cooking time to capture the most flavor.

2. 
   Gourmet Marjoram Vinegar

   Make marjoram vinegar for unique salad dressings. Gourmet flavored vinegars are a wonderful addition to any kitchen. They also make marvelous gifts. Here’s how to create your own:
   In a sterilized glass jar, put 2 cups of either white or red wine vinegar. Add two long sprigs of bruised fresh marjoram, or 2 teaspoons of dried marjoram. Cover top of container with plastic wrap before adding the lid. Place in a sunny window for a week. Shake container at least once per day to mix ingredients. At the end of the week, strain the vinegar through a coffee filter to remove the small herb pieces. Pour vinegar in a tightly covered storage container with a sprig of fresh marjoram.

3. 
   Homemade Marjoram Tea Bag

   Create your own herbal teas. Tie one teaspoon dried, or one tablespoon fresh marjoram in a coffee filter. Add one cup cold water. Place on stove and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat and steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Sweeten with honey or sugar, if desired.
   For different flavored herbal tea, add a few mint leaves, whole cloves, or other herbs to suit your own taste.

4. 
   Culinary Herbs: Marjoram

   Keep a sprig of marjoram in a decorative glass dish to act as a natural room freshener. If you want to keep moths away from your fine linens, tie a sprig or two of fresh marjoram in a net bag and hang it in your closet or linen cabinet.

Tips & Warnings

• If using dried herbs, decrease the amount. One tablespoon fresh provides the same flavor as one teaspoon of dried herbs.
• If you are not familiar with the taste of any particular herb, use it sparingly until you develop your own style of cooking.
• Marjoram tea has historically been used as an herbal remedy for many things including relief of cough, sinusitis and laryngitis.
• Resist the urge to sprinkle herbs directly over a steaming pot. The steam will condense on the top of your container, making a nasty mess.
• Heat and sunlight cause herbs to lose their flavor. Store herbs in a tightly covered container away from sunlight.

Resources

• Drying and Storing Fresh Herbs

[mweise]

on 7/9/2009 I've always wondered how this spice was used! I am definitely incorporating this into my cooking. Thanks for a great lesson!

[oxymora]

on 7/9/2009 I love marjoram in cooking. I didn't know about using it in other areas.

[kristara]

on 7/9/2009 I love Marjoram in vinegar 5*

[sonni57]

on 7/8/2009 Thanks for the marjoram useful tips I'll try them out.

[langleycornwell]

on 7/8/2009 Great article, and thanks for the marjoram vinegar suggestion.