Oregano substitute
Use dried marjoram, in the same amount. McCormick calls it perhaps the closest match, and says thyme and basil also swap for oregano in equal measure. If you have fresh oregano, use 1 tablespoon chopped for each teaspoon of dried.
Out of oregano mid-recipe?
Tell Sous Chef what you are missing. It swaps the ingredient and rewrites the steps that use it, and keeps your original recipe.
What are you making?
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Dried marjoram
Great fit1 tsp dried marjoram
For this dish: McCormick calls marjoram perhaps the closest match to oregano.
How: Use the same amount. Marjoram is a little milder, so taste near the end and add up to half as much again.
What changes: Sweeter and softer than oregano, with the same herby, peppery character.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Dried basil
Great fit1 tsp dried basil
For this dish: Basil's sweetness sits well in tomato sauce and on pizza.
How: Use the same amount, dried for dried or fresh for fresh.
What changes: Sweeter and milder, with none of oregano's earthy bite.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Italian seasoning
Great fit1 tsp Italian seasoning
For this dish: Puts the oregano back, with its usual companions.
How: Start with the same amount and taste. Blends heavy on rosemary or sage taste stronger.
What changes: It usually already contains oregano, plus thyme, basil and marjoram.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Fresh oregano
Great fit1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
For this dish: Fresh oregano is excellent in sauce and on pizza.
How: Use 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano per teaspoon of dried, the usual 3 to 1 ratio.
What changes: Brighter and greener than dried.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Dried thyme
Works1 tsp dried thyme
For this dish: Works in sauce, but tastes less like pizza.
How: McCormick swaps it in equal measure. Dried thyme can taste stronger than dried oregano, so you can start with half and taste after 20 minutes of cooking.
What changes: Earthier and more floral. Thyme shares oregano's main flavor compounds, thymol and carvacrol.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
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Mexican oregano
Works¾ tsp dried Mexican oregano
For this dish: Works in tomato sauce, with a slightly different, stronger flavor.
How: Start with about three quarters of the amount and taste, since it is the stronger of the two.
What changes: A different plant, related to lemon verbena, with a more earthy note. McCormick says it is not a match for Mediterranean oregano.
No major food allergens in these ingredients. Check labels on packaged products.
What oregano does in a recipe
Oregano is a pungent, peppery Mediterranean herb. It is central to pizza and tomato sauce, Greek salads and grilled meats, and Mexican oregano, a different plant, flavors chili and beans. A substitute needs some of that warm, resinous bite.
Swap it in your recipe with Sous Chef
A substitution is more than one ingredient line. The steps that use it change too. Sous Chef edits both on a working copy of your recipe, so the original is always one tap away.
You ask Sous Chef
"I don't have oregano."
Sous Chef edits the recipe
1 tsp dried marjoram
Use the same amount. Marjoram is a little milder, so taste near the end and add up to half as much again.
When not to substitute
If a recipe calls for Mexican oregano, Mediterranean oregano is not the closest swap. The Spice House says marjoram matches Mexican oregano better.
Common questions
What can I use instead of oregano?
Dried marjoram is closest, in the same amount. Thyme and basil also swap in equal measure, McCormick says. Basil suits tomato sauce and pizza best, thyme suits roasts and stews.
How much fresh oregano equals 1 teaspoon dried?
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh oregano equals 1 teaspoon of dried, according to McCormick and The Spice House.
Can I use Italian seasoning instead of oregano?
Yes, about the same amount. Italian seasoning usually contains oregano with thyme, basil and marjoram, so it works well in tomato sauces and on pizza.
Is Mexican oregano the same as oregano?
No. Mexican oregano comes from a different plant, related to lemon verbena, with a more earthy flavor. The Spice House says marjoram is the best substitute for it.
Related
- Italian seasoning substitutes
- Fresh herbs substitutes
- Garlic substitutes
- Tomato paste substitutes
- All ingredient substitutes
- How to substitute an ingredient
Sources
- Flavor story: oregano leaves (McCormick)
- The 8 best oregano substitutes (The Spice House)
- Oregano substitutes (SPICEography)
- Ingredient substitution guide (Food Network)
Cook with what you have.
Import any recipe into Sous Chef and ask for the swap. It rewrites the ingredient list and the steps, and never loses the original. Free on iPhone.