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| Pot Marjoram Norfolk herbs |
A member of the lamiaceae family marjoram has the characteristic square and covered in fine hairs stems and the leaves and its tubular lipped flowers are like all members of this family which include mint, hyssop, basil, sage, rosemary, thyme, savoury. All this family draws butterflies and bees to them with their rich aromatic scent. They are wonderful herbs to pick fresh in summer to use in light summer salads and meals but also enhance winter dishes soups, stews, and roasts and can be used fresh or dried they all help the digestion of these heavier foods
Pot marjoram is similar to the Wild Marjoram, and forms a mound of leaves from which grow the reddish purple flower stems loved by bees and butterflies. It is a beautiful plant which grows uprights, unlike wild marjoram which sprawls lazily,in verges and field margins. Wild marjoram grows to height of 18 inches or more and produces clusters of small tubular of mauve flowers. In winter it dies back to a dry mat.This plant is often called Oregano and is popular in italian cooking as it has a more pungent taste and when dried it is even stronger, perhaps because it is packed with high concentrations of aromatic volatile oils.
Origanum onites sometimes know as French Oregano is a has a light spicy flavour which is a delicious with vegetable dishes. This Autumn I sowed seeds of the Pot Marjoram but the tiny seedlings are prone to damping off. I have found with all the this family of plants I have more success propagating plants from cuttings. and root divisions. In spring I will take cuttings from the new growth as it is a safer way to increase the number of plants, I will divide the Yellow Arcon Bank marjoram which is sprawling across the width of one of my beds at the allotment. This lovely plant is a welcome gift to receive for most gardeners so if the cuttings and division are successful and and I am overwhelmed with plants someone will be happy to get a sturdy new plant of Marjoram.
Marjoram or Oregano: Can you tell the taste of marjoram from oregano? Oregano has stronger aromatic volatile oils and is more pungent while marjoram is considered s to give a sweeter spicer flavour to sauces than oregano but then again in the UK is the oregano in your spice rack Oregano or marjoram? In fact there are 40 plants in four botanical families that go by the name of Oregano the botanist must get a headache trying to sort the difference. It is best to enjoy these beautiful herbs in healing and cooking without worrying to much about botanical correctness of the name of the plant we are using. In Europe and America the plants is used as an aromatic spice and its healing benefits which are as aid to digestion an arthritis treatment, in an infusion to help ease the symptoms of coughs, colds and flu.
In the kitchen marjoram is good to use in pasta, rice, dishes like moussaka, or sprinkled on roast lamb or pork before cooking. here is a recipe for a potato pie potatoes:
1 lb of Potatoes thinly sliced and layered
4 finely sliced shallot
s a tablespoon or two of marjoram leaves
2 oz - 4 oz of butter
breadcrumbs as a topping
salt and pepper to taste
Layer the ingredients in a buttered pie dish top with bread crumbs and more dabs of butter and bake in medium oven for an hour. Enjoy as an accompaniment to main meal or as a supper dish with cheese added to the layers.
The Daily Telegraph published a potato dish using marjoram and new potatoes baked in parchment with fresh garlic here is the recipe
The marjarom I grow on my plot is decorative, a lovely herb to cook with, and is beneficial to our health. so Three Cheers for Marjoram or is it Organeo?
With Reiki's blessing and light
MerryB
