Olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, is widely renowned for its many health benefits. A staple in the Mediterranean diet, olive oil lends robust flavor to many recipes, without unhealthy fats or additives. Rich in healthy monounsaturated fats, Omega-3, and Omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants, olive oil can be a healthier alternative to other ingredients. Easy to use in multiple cooking methods, from sauteeing to baking, olive oil should be a go-to ingredient in any well-stocked kitchen. The professionals at Texas Hill Country Olive Co., a leading Texas olive oil company, highlight a multitude of ways to incorporate Texas olive oil in healthy meals.
Dressings, Dips, and Marinades
The texture and flavor of olive oil render it the perfect base for liquid needs. Used to drizzle over prepared dishes, olive oil can be mixed with various ingredients to lend a drizzled flavor explosion. By adding oregano, sage, and rosemary to olive oil, at-home chefs can quickly add a taste of Italy to crostini, bread, and even fries. Adding a sprinkle of cajun spices instantly heats up the same appetizers. For marinating meats and fish, Texas olive oil with freshly squeezed lemon offers a beautiful crisp with a light flavor and aroma. To kick things up a notch, cooks can add a variety of spices.
For game nights and girls’ nights galore, the professionals at Texas Hill Country Olive Co. recommend whipping up various olive oil-based dips. Unlike cheese or sour cream-based dips, olive oil-based dips offer the same snacking capacity, without the unhealthy fat. While there are many varieties of healthy dip recipes out there, simple concoctions can pack a punch. For an at-home take on hummus, try mixing together cooked white beans, garlic, olive oil, and any desired seasonings. This basic blend can be dressed up with spices or left neutral to accommodate for savory crackers or thin breads.
Baked Goods
Baked goods featuring olive oil have been recently popping up at gourmet confectionery shops across the country. To mimic this unique flavor profile, the pros at Texas Hill Country Olive Co. recommend swapping out the traditional oil found in most recipes for olive oil. As olive oil is inherently more flavorful than traditional baking oils, it will lend a slightly altered (in the best way possible) flavor profile to the finished product. Texas Hill Country Olive Co.’s purveyors recommend making the swap in bread recipes, savory muffins, croissants, and breakfast items.
Pound cakes, and other dense desserts, will highlight the flavor of olive oil in the best capacity. Amazing flavor combinations include lemon, grapefruit, and cornmeal. Instead of the traditional egg-wash process to brown the tops of crusts, bakers can also utilize olive oil.
Add The Finishing Touch
While adding olive oil as a base ingredient for many recipes enhances flavor, a quick addition shortly prior to serving many meals helps to transform vegetables, pasta, and other side dishes. Texas Hill Country Olive Oil Co. offers a robust variety of flavor-infused olive oils, which are a quick way to enhance the flavor profiles of these items without too much forethought. When sprinkled on a roasting sheet pan, infused olive oil adds a hint of flavor, and an added crunch to vegetables like green beans, asparagus, and even carrots. For veggies, Texas Hill Country Olive Co.’s Hatch Green Chile infused olive oil brings the heat. Instead of tossing finished pasta with butter, adding olive oil creates the same flavor-boosting and texture effect, without the unhealthy detriments of using butter.
Potatoes
Potatoes are often a staple sidekick on the dinner plate and can benefit from an olive oil substitution in many capacities. Enriching the flavor of potatoes, and offering a browned crisp, adding olive oil to various potato recipes helps to kick things up a notch. The renowned chefs at Texas Hill Country Olive Co.’s on-site farm-to-table restaurant agree potatoes and olive oil are a match made in heaven.
For mashed potatoes, swapping traditional butter for olive oil offers a healthier finished product. These modified mashed potatoes benefit from olive oil, roasted garlic, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Julienned or sliced potatoes roasted on a sheet pan get a helping hand in the crunch department from a pre-oven drizzle of olive oil.
Get Creative with Texas Olive Oil
A staple in the popular Mediterranean diet, olive oil has been used for centuries across the world in various culinary ventures. With so many health-boosting benefits, Texas olive oil is a fantastic substitute for traditional fatty ingredients. Easily adaptable in many recipes, it can be a truly immersive product that should be a staple in any kitchen. Staff at Texas Hill Country Olive Co. regularly touts the wide breadth of usage for olive oil in healthy cooking methodologies and champions the widespread implementation of olive oil in everything from hummus to ice cream. It’s no secret, olive oil is a delicious go-to for flavorful, robust, and healthy cooking.