What is Marjoram Spice & how to use it?
Marjoram might not be the most popular of herbs; it ranks sixth in market trade after oregano, laurel, rosemary, basil, and sage. Yet, it’s one of the most prized in Mediterranean cooking. Nothing beats the herb’s sweet, floral, and pine flavors with citrus hints, and its warm personality.
The largest marjoram producing country is Egypt, although the herb is native to the entire Mediterranean Basin and Arabic Peninsula. Europe imports 65% of the marjoram produced, and North America imports 35% of it; the little that’s left is consumed locally in the producing countries.
Why is marjoram so popular? How is it used? And most importantly, is it good for you? Here’s all you need to know about marjoram, what is marjoram spice, and all its benefits.
What is Marjoram?
Marjoram is a perennial herb which means it lives for over two years. It’s part of the Oregano family, and its name quite literally means the major or the “best.”
Both Ancient Greeks and Romans enjoyed seasoning their food with marjoram, and they associated it with happiness. It was even supposedly used in love potions — and we agree.
Marjoram adds flavor to stews, soups, sauces, salad dressings, and even herbal teas. It’s part of the famous French herbs de Provence, and it’s widely used in traditional Italian cooking, including pizzas.
There are over 40 species of marjoram, though. Still, according to the experts, the two most common are the sweet marjoram, one related to mint found worldwide, and the European or wild variety that shares similarities with the resiny oregano.
Marjoram Health Benefits
Marjoram’s place is in the kitchen, both as a fresh herb or as a dried and powdered spice. Yet, the herb has notable health advantages. Here are marjoram’s most significant health benefits.
- Marjoram is a potent antioxidant. A compound present in the herb, carvacrol, can deal with damaging free radicals caused by oxidative stress and responsible for cell degeneration, heart disease, and premature aging.
- There’s enough clinical evidence to prove marjoram’s anti-inflammatory properties that can counter chronic inflammation, which eventually leads to hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and even cancer.
- Marjoram’s active compounds have antimicrobial properties and can treat bacterial infections and fungal diseases.
- Marjoram’s warm taste is excellent for stomach aches and gastrointestinal illness and can help protect you from stomach ulcers.
- Interestingly, marjoram is used in traditional medicine to treat menopause symptoms, regulate the menstrual cycle, and increase menstrual flow.
- As you’ll read below, marjoram is a nutrient-rich herb, putting it in the superfood category.
Marjoram Nutritional Value
Nutritionally, the Mediterranean herb is quite complex, making it ideal to use often in your cooking.
100 grams of the powdered herb comprises 60 grams of carbohydrates in the form of fiber and sugar, 7 grams of mono-unsaturated fat, and 12 grams of protein, making it stand out amongst other cooking herbs.
Marjoram is a fantastic source for Vitamin A, covering 45% of your daily recommended intake, Vitamin B1, or thiamine, with 22%, vitamin B12, or riboflavin, with 21%, and astonishing levels of vitamin B6 with 92% and Vitamin C with 86%.
There’s more because marjoram adds six times the amount of vitamin K and iron you need and two times the amount your body needs for calcium for the day.
Magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc are well represented, too, making marjoram one of the most nutrient-rich cooking herbs on the planet.
How To Cook With Marjoram
Marjoram’s unique aroma is compatible with slow-cooked meat and tomato sauces. It flavors stews and broths all around Europe and the Middle East as well, but there’s no wrong way of using marjoram for cooking.
The herb is milder than oregano, so it’s less likely it’ll overpower the flavors in a preparation. When fresh, you can add it at the end of the cooking process to add aromatics, color, and freshness to any dish; when dried, mostly known as marjoram spice, you can use it in marinades or to flavor food while on the fire.
What are substitutes for marjoram? If you can’t find marjoram, your safest bet is using dried oregano, but use less of it since oregano is more intensely aromatic. The good news is that marjoram is widely available, mostly when dried, and you won’t have a hard time finding it or using it all!
If You’re Not Cooking With Marjoram Yet, Don’t Wait!
Marjoram is one of those ingredients the finest chefs keep close to their hearts; it’s a secret ingredient and the difference between a restaurant-quality dish and a so-so meal.
Using marjoram adds an extra layer of flavor and aroma to food in a subtle and very pleasing way like no other herb can do. Try it and make it part of your secret seasoning, and whatever you do, don’t reveal it. It stays between you, us, and marjoram. Be sure to check out curated, hand picked Marjoram products at our curated shop.
Highly Rated – Social Media Chatter on Marjoram
These corzetti with marjoram and pine nuts are just as tasty as they are beautiful! ✨ I had so much fun making this dish alongside my friend Enrica from asmallkitcheningenoa this past week—we talked all about these printed pasta medallions and I learned so many new things! Not to mention it gave me another welcome chance to play with my many romagnolipastatools stamps. 🙌 Swipe for some videos and head over to Enrica’s IGTV to watch our cook-along! Which stamp is your favorite? 🐝🐙⭐️⚜️
And here’s Enrica’s recipe ICYMI…
For the dough:
300g 00 or all-purpose flour
1 egg, about 50g in weight
50ml lukewarm water
50ml dry white wine
Make the dough according to your preferred method. Knead vigorously, wrap, and rest. When making the corzetti, roll into a semi-thin sheet (I did 5 on my Marcato Atlas 150).
For the sauce:
30g pine nuts
1 bunch fresh marjoram (you can also use 2t dry marjoram or fresh oregano)
1 clove garlic
4T olive oil
Add the pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and some marjoram leaves to a food processor and coarsely chop. Transfer to a skillet and sizzle briefly over medium-low heat. Add the pasta & a bit of pasta water, then toss to combine. Serve immediately, topped with more fresh marjoram. Enjoy! 🙂
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#corzetti #pinenuts #marjoram #ligurianfood #freshpasta #pastafresca #homemadepasta #pastafattaincasa #pastamaking #cucinaitaliana #italiancuisine #simplefood #onmytable #makeitdelicious #tooprettytoeat
BONAJUTO (bonajuto)
Marjoram (50g)
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ボナイユートはイタリア シチリア州モディカにあるチョコレートメーカー🇮🇹
#tai_bonajuto
古代製法で作られており、口溶けを良くするカカオバターやレシチンは不使用。また低温で作られるため砂糖のシャリシャリとした食感が残っているのも特徴。クセはあるので、ハマる人にはハマるブランドな気もします。
65%ダークチョコレートに、マジョラムというハーブの入った一枚。
口溶けはゆったり。ボナイユートは食感も楽しめるのでしばらくしたら噛んだ方が良いと思います。ハーバルな香りがゆったり全体に広がります。ダークですが砂糖のシャリシャリ感が残っているので、そこから甘みを感じられます。ハーブ香はフェンネルとかローズマリーに近い気がしました。おそらくマジョラムそのものがチョコレートの中に入っているので、噛むとぶわっと広がります。
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Today’s chocolate bar is from BONAJUTO, chocolate maker in Modica, Italy. Marjoram is a 65% dark chocolate containing a hint of marjoram leaves. The chocolate melted slowly. There is a tiny sugar inside and it gives me a crunchy texture every time. Tasting the chocolate, herbal aroma spread throughout my mouth slowly. That was comfortable. The chocolate itself tasted deep bitter but the sugar inside added sweetness every bite and the taste got balanced. The herbal flavor I felt seemed to be fennel or rosemary. Probably the chocolate had marjoram leaves themselves inside, so the flavor got stronger quickly once I bit the leave.
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#ボナイユート #マジョラム #チョコレート #板チョコ #ダークチョコレート #bonajuto #marjoram #chocolate #chocolatebar #darkchocolate #tai_encychocopedia #tai_chocobar
Sources:
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/marjoram-substitutes-1388873
- https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origanum_majorana
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjoram
- https://www.rxlist.com/marjoram/supplements.htm
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/marjoram
- http://www.herbexpert.co.uk/cooking-with-marjoram.html
- https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-marjoram-learn-how-to-cook-with-marjoram-plus-7-marjoram-recipes
- https://www.helpwithcooking.com/herb-guide/marjoram.html
- https://worldspicecongress.com/uploads/files/24/sess01-f.pdf
Marjoram spice seems really good and I would like to buy it for myself seeing how much it can help a person with health issues. I have been research good spices for myself that I can start using in my business. I like that this herb is eternal and it lives forever. I’m definitely buying this.
Thanks Suz. Marjoram spice is an interesting one.