This is a simple approach to providing a delicious, Italian flare to most any protein or vegetable. It contains an abundance of garlic and that’s Italian!
By definition, oreganata is a simple stuffing or coating of breadcrumbs, garlic, olive oil and herbs – including parsley and more garlic powder. There are variations that use butter, parmesan, wine and red pepper flakes, but I like to apply mom’s mantra in these recipes of “it’s so simple.”
INGREDIENTS: With that in mind, you’ll need an ample supply of the following ingredients, all organic of course:
- Fresh Breadcrumbs (plain)
- Fresh Parsley (chopped)
- Garlic cloves (peeled and crushed, minced or thinly sliced)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Garlic Powder
- Salt (to taste)
- Optional: Red Pepper (if you like a kick)
- Optional: Lemon juice (for fish entrees)
DIRECTIONS: Simply coat the entrée in a baking pan with olive oil. Sprinkle breadcrumbs to cover. Add parsley and garlic powder. Add more olive oil if breadcrumbs need moistening. Salt can be added to suit your own taste. If you like a spicy kick, red pepper flakes can be used. Lastly, for fish dishes, just put some lemon juice in the pan to coat the fish first and settle to the bottom. This will allow the breadcrumbs to crisp up nicely without getting soggy from the lemon juice.
Generally, bake at 375F degrees or the time required to cook the entrée through. For fish dishes, I’ll leave 3-5 minutes at the end to switch the broiler on and ensure a golden brown crisp on top.
Here are some ways we use this simple yet succulent seasoning approach:
| Entrée | Cooking Temp / Time (appx) | Comments |
| Mushrooms | 375 degrees / 25 minutes or until golden brown | Great side dish or salad topper. Time saving alternative to traditional stuffed mushrooms. Just slice mushrooms and follow directions above. |
| Shrimp | 375 degrees / 15 minutes + 5 minutes under broiler until toasty brown | Don’t forget the lemon and be generous with the garlic cloves. This mixture is spooned up out of the pan until the last bit is gone. |
| Flounder / Salmon | Same as shrimp | White (or even red) wine can be added to the bottom of the pan, but is not necessary. |
| Zucchini | Same as mushrooms. | Slice zucchini the same thickness for even cooking. This one could also use some fresh basil. |
Mangia!
