What is Mexican oregano? And do you really need it in addition to regular oregano in your pantry? Find out everything you need to know about it here!
Origins
Mexican oregano comes from a flowering plant that is native to Mexico, Central America and the southwest United States. It is drought tolerant so thrives in these dry climates.
It is known for its earthy flavor with citrus undertones. The plant is in the same family as lemon verbena, so you’ll notice some similarities.
Mexican oregano is a staple in Mexican cooking. It a popular seasoning for pozole, black beans, and lots of meat dishes. In Latin American kitchens, it is an all-purpose seasoning that can be found in just about any dish.Â
In Mexico, it’s even used as an herbal tea ingredient!
What’s the difference between regular and Mexican oregano?
These two types of oregano share a name, but that’s about it. They are from different plant families and have different tastes and aroma.Â
Regular oregano is an Italian and Mediterranean spice with minty undertones. It matches perfectly with dishes from that region. You will commonly find it added to pasta sauces, grilled meats and pizza.Â
Mexican oregano has lemon and citrus flavors as well as some tones of licorice. These flavors are a better fit with Mexican dishes. It is often found in chili and salsas because it pairs beautifully with spicy chile peppers.
Its intense peppery, grassy and earthy flavor compliments tacos, beans, burritos and heavy meats. While it can be eaten raw, it tastes much better in its dry form.Â
What can I substitute for Mexican oregano?
People often wonder if regular oregano and Mexican oregano are interchangable. While you can use one in place of the other, the flavor is not really the same. Marjoram is a closer substitute to the actual flavor of Mexican oregano. In fact, it is sometimes called Mexican marjoram or Mexican wild sage.
If you miss the citrus notes of the spice, you can add a pinch of coriander.
That being said, one spice will not make or break your meal. It’s totally fine to use the “regular” mediterranean oregano that’s commonly sold in most stores. Buf if it’s available near you or you’d like to try it, it will add a deep earthy taste your food that is so amazing! I highly recommend you give it a taste.
Where to buy Mexican oregano
It can be difficult to find Mexican oregano in large national-chain grocery stores. Speciality and Latin markets almost always carry it, so that’s where I would look first. Since it’s a dry spice, you can also order it online and have it delivered right to your door, no matter how far away an ethnic market is!
I’ve recently been introduced to The Spice House and am so impressed with their super high quality. They have a huge selection of spices from all around the world, including Mexican oregano.
If Amazon is more your thing, you can also buy it there!
How to use it
The intense grassy taste of this spice is fantastic in spicy foods. To enhance the flavor, rub the leaves between your fingers before using it. This will start to release the flavor hidden in the leaves. Include it in these dishes for great unique flavor:
- Tacos – Ground Beef Tacos and Chicken Tinga Tacos
- Stews – Chicken Pozole Verde and Red Posole
- Chilis – Spicy Vegetarian Chili and Mexican Chorizo Chili
- Meats – Carnitas, Carne Asada and Pollo Asado
- Beans – Charro Beans, Black Bean Soup and Refried Beans
Can I make pozole with pork? Do you have a recipe? Just returned from Zihuatnejo and still savoring the lovely vibes and great meals we enjoyed. In zihuat they eat pozole every Thursday .
Hi Brigitte! Yes we have a red pork posole recipe on the blog if you wanted to check that out.
Fascinating — thank you! I was googling to see if there were any central-American uses for canned tuna, and I found one recipe calling for Mexican oregano which I’d not heard of. Marjoram and coriander I have!
You probably know that Mexican Oregano is an entirely different plant than the Mediterranean. It also has different chemical issues. Some people are highly allergic to the Mediterranean oregano, but have no trouble at all with Mexican. It’s an important difference for those of us who have this allergy.
Thank you for explaining the difference in the oregno
You forgot to mention Menudo, you can not eat mexican menudo without oregano.
You also forgot to mention that in some parts of mexico, oregano is added to the salsa.
Hi Luis! Thank you for your tip!
I bought a mexican oregano plant and found out I could root cuttings in water. I am glad to find out how to use it in cooking! It grows well in South Florida.
Could lemon verbena be used instead.
Hi Lynne! It would give a different flavor than using oregano but you can definitely give it a try!
When the recipe calls for dry oregano, how do I substitute fresh oregano?
Hi Claudia! In general, 1 Tablespoon of fresh herb= 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.
Look like great recipes, can’t wait to try them.
Would you suggest the ground or whole oregano?
I like buying whole oregano, and then when you’re ready to use it in a recipe, simply rub it in the palm of your hands to crush it up. That will release some of the natural oils and really activate some of the flavor!
Whats with the borracho beans, its not right, its Frijoles Charros, its a ranch type dish.
Hello Luis. We have both recipes, one for frijoles charros and one for borracho beans on the site. We apologize for the confusion!