What do you Know About Your
Italian Cooking Herbs?

From fun stories to practical gardening tips... your herbs have a story to tell.

Gardening is a wonderful activity which helps keep both adults and children healthy and active. This article will talk about the history and uses of 3 common herbs which are found in nearly every Italian garden - oregano, sage and fennel.

OREGANO

Fun History:
Turns out, the Goddess of Love is also the Goddess of Oregano. Yup, Venus (or, if you’re Greek, ‘Aphrodite’) was so kind-hearted, she gave oregano to man as a promise to make his life better. No promises of staying on top of his mortgage or keeping his kids out of gangs, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Real History:
However, the really interesting thing about oregano is not just its flavor or its endowment to us from ancient mythical goddesses, but its effective use as an antibacterial astringent in the treatment of minor insect, spider, and snake bites. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, consistently suggested its use for this purpose, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. In the Dark Ages, people chewed on it to relieve toothaches and stomach ailments, as it was one of the few herbs they continued using during this time.

Like basil, oregano is in the mint family, its genus being Origanum with various species designations. It appears to be indigenous to the Mediterranean, although it can be found in Asia as well. Don’t confuse real oregano with Mexican oregano, as the latter is more closely related to the verbenas (tropical plants) than mint, although its flavor and use in culinary applications is similar.

Growing Oregano:
Greek oregano is the more common variety used in cooking - even the Italians use Greek oregano. It is easy to grow and yields plenty. Plant oregano seedlings once the temperature is consistently above 45 degrees F. Any less and the poor herb is at risk. Make sure the soil has good drainage, but this is one herb that does not require much water. Place the plants about a foot apart to allow for growth. Allow 2 months for plants to reach maturity.

SAGE

Fun History:
Closely associated with wisdom, longevity and immortality, sage was highly prized throughout the Europe and the Mediterranean. But even more interesting is how committed people were to this association.

When the rats and their fleas brought about the Black Plague, four Frenchmen were arrested for stealing from the homes of dead plague victims. Upon their capture, they stated the reason they could come into close quarters with infected individuals and stay clean was an herbal rub later called ‘Four Thieves Vinegar.’ It was never frozen and Jimmy Buffet never wrote a song about it, but it was a concoction of herbs, wine vinegar, and garlic.

They were sentenced to death, but they were offered leniency in exchange for the recipe to this salve. So, they squealed, and it turns out, sage was one of the ingredients in the herb mix. Even today, the mix is still sold in France.

Real History:
Salvia officinalis is the binomial nomenclature for the typical sage plant used in cooking. Its origins trace back to the Romans, who believed it to be a strong medicinal herb, and where they went, it went. In fact, it's very genus name, Salvia, means “to heal,” and evidence suggests this is how they sold it to the rest of the world. And when you consider its hardiness and ability to survive and thrive in some of the driest and hottest places in the world, it is easy to see why it was so respected and admired.

Growing Sage:
You can start growing sage indoors from seed, or you can buy sage seedlings at a store. Either way plant them outside when the weather is a good 65 degrees F at least. There is no need to saturate with water, just a nice sprinkling to dampen the soil will do. Make sure however the soil has a good drainage system to prevent the soil from becoming overly soggy for any extended amount of time. Sage leaves are ready to harvest right before the flowers begin to form.


FENNEL

Fun History:
Ancient Greeks may not have been able to hold on to their empires, but boy they could sure tell a story!

According to mythology, the gods weren’t at all that interested in their human subjects. Well, one of them, Prometheus, didn’t share that indifferent and condescending belief, and actually felt sorry for us. So sorry, in fact, he decided to steal fire from Zeus smuggling it down in a stalk of fennel so we could have heat for our homes and cooking.

Real History:
Even though it is given the typical two-name designation attributed to most plants and animals in Biology, Foeniculum vulgare is considered the only fennel species in the Foeniculum genus. Not that it is a complete orphan – it has distant cousins like parsley and cumin – but fennel is fennel, and that is it.

Composed primarily of anethole (about 80%), it carries a very strong flavor reminiscent of anise (licorice).

Growing Fennel:
When the soil is above 59 degrees F then you know it is a good time to plant some fennel. Plant the fennel about a food apart allowing for expansion as it grows and keep the soil moist for about 10-14 days until you start to see it grow. Fennel requires good drainage and a rich soil. These will take 3 months to reach maturity and can even reach heights of 4 feet. Fennel herbs are often used as ornamental plants because of its height and delicate long branches.

Growing herbs of any kind not only provides a great excuse for enjoying some fresh air, but also offers many uses in the kitchen. The herbs listed in this article are often found in Italian recipes. Sage can be used in many meat recipes such as roasted chicken or veal scallops. Oregano is the secret ingredient to pizza sauce and many meat stews. Fennel can be used in a variety of ways, but one in particular is to use it to season oven roasted potatoes or fish - which is a great meal option for those who are looking for vegetarian Italian recipes.



About the author: Elizabeth Krause grew up gardening with her mother, and enjoys the topic of gardening. She is currently the publisher of an Italian cooking website, showcasing many of her families favorite recipes. She gives advice on Italian kitchen appliances such as using stove top coffee makers, or discussing various dinnerware items such as olive pasta bowls or country style lasagna pans. She encourages everyone to grow their own herbs and experience the joy of cooking.