How to dry and store Ajwain Leaves DIY Dried Oregano Leaves

How to dry and store Ajwain Leaves Dried Oregano Leaves : Two years back We were invited by our friend to have lunch at their place. While looking around her vegetable garden Ajwain / Oregano Plant caught my eyes. She bought it from an Indian store and it was in a pot. I got a small teeny-weeny stem from her (chumma varuvoma 🙂 )

and I too planted it in a pot for almost a year since it has to be moved indoor during winter season. In last summer I plucked a stem from it and planted on the garden bed before leaving to India. When I came back it grew like a bush so trimmed it (refer picture below), plucked the leaves and of course gave stems to the entire street friends who wished to have . Those leaves took almost 20 days for me to completely dry in indoor meanwhile I got second batch of leaves as well. The days vary and completely depends on the temperature and humidity at your place. Also once leaves wilted a bit you can dry in the oven at 250 F as needed, eyeball it otherwise leaves get burnt.

How to dry and store Oregano Leaves

• I don’t add any artificial plant foods to my vegetable garden bed.
• But I add egg whites shell powder (will make a post soon). You can see white powder over ajwain leaves in the above picture.
• Pluck the leaves , soak it, say 15 minutes in a big pot filled with water.
• Wash it thrice to remove any debris over the leaves.
• Once done drain from the water completely.
• Pat dry over clean cloth or sheet under shade.
• You can dry under hot sun as well for quick processing.
• Once leaves are wilted and reduce in quantity either place it in a tray and bake at 250 F as needed or
• Keep indoor in a clean place till leaves turn brown.
• Never ever cover the leaves / close in a container when they are still green.

When they turned brown, just warm it for few minutes say 5 minutes in the oven at 250 F.

• They turn crisp, this step is optional but this ensures it has longer shelf life.
• Pulse in the mixer 1 to 2  seconds or crush with your hands.
• I sieved them using a medium hole sieve.
• Then store the very well ground leaves powder separately in a jar.
• The once collected over top is stored in a separate jar as shown in the picture below.

Notes

1. When handled and dried properly it says fresh for several months.
2. If using oven eyeball it often otherwise the leaves get burnt.
3. The other quick way is on and off warm in the oven for 5 minutes at 250 F per day and rest of the time dry indoor, it dries very sooner.

How to use the Dried Oregano Leaves

You can use it a tsp in your daily cooking like in the below recipes

Karupuravali Rasam

White Sauce Pasta

Bread Sticks

Coriander Spinach Mathri

Masala Phulka

Avocado Fries

Cheddar Sage Scones

Saltine Crackers

Focaccia Caprese

NY Style Pizza Crust

Spaghetti with meatless meat balls

Fish Fingers

Homemade Pizza Sauce

and Wherever Italian Seasoning calls for…

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How to dry and store Oregano Leaves

How to dry and store Oregano Leaves | DIY dried Ajwain Leaves

Author: Sangeetha Priya

Instructions

1. I don’t add any artificial plant foods to my vegetable garden bed.
2. But I add egg whites shell powder (will make a post soon). You can see white powder over ajwain leaves in the above picture.
3. Pluck the leaves , soak it, say 15 minutes in a big pot filled with water.
4. Wash it thrice to remove any debris over the leaves.
5. Once done drain from the water completely.
6. Pat dry over clean cloth or sheet under shade.
7. You can dry under hot sun as well for quick processing.
8. Once leaves are wilted and reduce in quantity either place it in a tray and bake at 250 F as needed or
9. Keep indoor in a clean place till leaves turn brown.
10. Never ever cover the leaves / close in a container when they are still green.
11. When they turned brown, just warm it for few minutes say 5 minutes in the oven at 250 F.
12. They turn crisp, this step is optional but this ensures it has longer shelf life.
13. Pulse in the mixer 1 to 2  seconds or crush with your hands.
14. I sieved them using a medium hole sieve.
15. Then store the very well ground leaves powder separately in a jar.
16. The once collected over top is stored in a separate jar as shown in the picture below.

Recipe Notes

1. When handled and dried properly it says fresh for several months.
2. If using oven eyeball it often otherwise the leaves get burnt.
3. The other quick way is on and off warm in the oven for 5 minutes at 250 F per day and rest of the time dry indoor, it dries very sooner.