Strawberry Oregano Jam W/Chia Seeds!

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     I was asked to help teach a class about using fresh herbs and my assigned herb was oregano.  It is one of the herbs that I don't have growing in my garden, lol, but I thought that I could give this presentation a shot!  

     Most people equate oregano with Italian food, but my two Italian experts, Anita and Jessica tell me that Americans use a lot more oregano than Italians do in our pizza and pasta sauces.   Oregano can actually be found in the food of many cultures.  It is very versatile and has health benefits as well!  

      I did share a recipe for a homemade Italian pasta sauce to begin with in my segment of the herb class, but then I decided to do a couple of more unusual recipes as well!  I'll be sharing a few of those with you in the future, but today I thought I would give you the recipe that probably received the most positive comments of the night.  It is the Strawberry Oregano Jam! 

In this picture you can see the chia seeds and the bits of oregano in this delicious jam.

     You may think that the oregano would be too overpowering for a sweet jam, but the opposite is true.  The oregano is very much just a back of the palette earthy flavor that helps to cut through the sweetness of a regular strawberry jam.  
        I wanted to make this jam less sweet, so I broke the cardinal rule of jam making and messed with the recipe!  I used pectin, but I also used chia seeds that would help with the thickening process.  I added lime essential oil as well because I wanted the brightness to go with the earthiness of the oregano.  The jam is still a little thinner than normal, but so delicious! 

      This recipe made a lot of jam.  I canned these jars while still saving out about 2 cups of jam to in a container in the refrigerator to share at the class!  

Shop This Post:  You will have to find your own source for strawberries and oregano.  I went to my grocery store when the strawberries were on sale. 

• chia seeds-here is a great deal!
• Lime oil-search lime oil in the search bar
• Lemon juice
• canning jars
• canning lids

     Remember when making your jam that you must follow the directions and add the ingredients in the order given.  It really does make a difference in the outcome of the jam.  But, if for some reason the jam doesn't set, this will be super delicious on pancakes or crepes! 

     It is a lot of fun to add variety to your normal recipes and people are always eager to try them.  At the end of the class, one of my friends grabbed a plastic cup and poured some of the jam in it to take home!  I felt so complimented and happy to share!  So, here is the recipe, don't forget to click on it for the printable version.