Oregano Recipes for a Lean Chicken Dinner

Oregano originated in the Mediterranean but is now cultivated and used worldwide. It is easy to find in the supermarket and easy to incorporate into simple oregano recipes for an authentic Greek or Italian taste. 

Oregano is a natural herb and spice which has been used by the ancients- the Greeks, Romans, and Chinese for hundreds of years as natural remedies and in oregano recipes. Pizza and pastas have a distinctive Italian taste because of oregano. It has a naturally musky smell and a distinctive taste which enhances simple dishes.

Oregano has a stronger effect in the dry form when used in cooking than if used fresh.  

Lean Chicken Oregano  

Required Ingredients: 

• 1/3rd cup melted butter

• 1/3rd cup lemon juice

• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 3-4 tablespoons fresh oregano, or 2-3 tablespoons dry oregano

• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder

• 7 skinless, boneless chicken halves 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a bowl, mix the garlic powder, fresh oregano, soy sauce, lemon juice, melted butter, and Worcestershire sauce. Bake the chicken for 25-30 minutes, checking in every 10 to 15 minutes to make the juices flow on top of the chicken so that it doesn't dry out. Once the chicken is no longer pink on the inside, remove the dish from the oven and save the juices as a side or to pour over rice as a side serving.  

Origin

According to Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite invented the herb Oregano and gave it as a gift to mankind. The word oregano means the 'joy of mountains' in Greek, perhaps a nod to Mount Olympus, the home of the Greek Gods. It was used in the time of marriages and deaths as wreaths and commemoration as a symbol of peace. The scholar Hippocrates used it along with marjoram as an antiseptic agent.  

The Romans loved the taste of oregano and invented a few of the first oregano recipes when they began cultivating it to spice meats, fish and wine. This caused the use of oregano to spread across Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa.  

In the Middle Ages, it was one of the few spices available at the time so it was used in various oregano recipes. It was also used as a home remedy for simple ailments such as cough, toothache, and indigestion. It spread to China, where it was used for more severe problems such as itching, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.  

Benefits

It is an antiseptic and anti-parasitic agent, helping digestion and to boost the body's natural immunity.

It increases joint flexibility and wellness and is beneficial to the respiratory system. The oil of oregano is diluted with water to soothe dry, itchy skin. Being a natural herb, it is rich in vitamins and minerals such as manganese, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids to fight 'bad' cholesterol and antioxidants, which fight cancer-causing chemicals and free radicals. Oregano helps reduce fever by acting as a stimulant to increase perspiration. When used as an herbal tea, oregano helps ease and reduce spasmodic contractions of smooth muscles of the abdomen or uterus to relieve menstrual cramps. All of these reasons are why you should try oregano recipes in your own kitchen.