Category: Recipes
The work week has come to an end and your husband (or wife) has informed you that you have friends coming over for drinks. You are unprepared for company! Wine is on hand, a few bottles of choice spirits and a variety of ales but nothing to nosh on as an appetizer or pseudo meal. This easy bruschetta recipe is sure to please a crowd, requires minimal effort and a minimum amount of time.
When people think of salads they often think of the basic, boring, iceberg lettuce, devoid of flavor, texture and the most lifeless food to eat. In fact, salads can have depth, personality, and make you question everything you think you know about your flavor palette.
These super sweet, savory, tangy, layered with flavor and bite Cranberry Pecan Sticky buns are a must have for holidays, Saturday mornings, or brunch get-togethers.
Olive oil and balsamic vinegar are an unconventional ingredient when talking about desserts, but are they? Each plays their own part in the creation of some of the most delicious and delicate desserts, however, we at Oviedo Olive Oil have been using our infused olive oils and vinegars in new ways for desserts. Oil & vinegar as dessert toppings are absolutely absurd and downright unheard of for some, however, we have these amazing dessert ideas using our oils and vinegars. One of the simplest ways we have been using our olive oils and vinegars is as dessert toppings on ice cream. Keep reading for other dessert options.
Olive oil?
VINEGAR!?
On ice cream?
Take away the traditional oily taste you consider when thinking of olive oil, because these infused olive oils take on a whole new texture and flavor. Who would have thought that olive oil and vinegar would make such incredibly smooth and delicious dessert toppings.
When using ice cream dessert toppings like chocolate syrup, these are generally highly processed and have nasty ingredients like “sorbates” – which is a thickener to give the sugary syrup a more viscous consistency – and “diglycerides” which is just chemical terms for fatty acids. Those fatty acids can be found, naturally occurring, in olive oil.
Don’t knock it until you try it! We too were skeptics until our chef took the plunge and made some delicious oil and vinegar combination dessert toppings that would rival any ice cream shop. Check out the combinations and flavors we have already tried and tested as true winners among kids and skeptical eaters alike.
DESSERT TOPPINGS
LEMON MERINGUE
MAPLE DELIGHT
PEACHES AND CREAM
Blend well and pour over your favorite ice cream or dessert. We even love these on Greek Yogurt and cottage cheese with fresh fruit. Feel free to modify these to your liking.
Our Arbequina olive oil is rich in earthy flavor, a hint of pepper, and the beautiful, soothing aroma, often experienced when catching a whiff of fresh cut grass in summer. Bold taste with fruity notes, our Arbequina is perfect as your everyday olive oil.
DRESSING:
3 tbsp. Arbequina extra virgin olive oil, plus more for the bread
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice OR 3 tbsp. Meyer Lemon extra virgin olive oil, in lieu of evoo +lemon juice plus more for serving
1 tsp. Oviedo Olive Oil Sweet & Spicy mustard
3 tbsp. White Garlic Balsamic Vinegar
1/4 tsp. each kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
SALAD:
(substitute as you see fit!)
a few handfuls salads greens, sliced radicchio, baby kale, and/or baby spinach
tomatoes, sliced in quarters
20 leaves of basil, coarsely chopped, or toss in whole
3 tbsp. capers OR 1/4 c. Castelvetrano olives
1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
CROUTONS:
1 Fresh Baguette of bread
2 tbsp. Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp. Tuscan Dipping Herbs
Slice the fresh baguette in half and cut into 1/2 inch or 1-inch cubes and toss in the olive oil and herbs, cook in a pan until brown and a tad crispy. Set aside.
Prep the salad with all ingredients while the croutons cool and allow the seasonings to set in.
Combine all dressing ingredients either in a blender and quickly pulse or in a bowl and whisk together. Pour the croutons over the salad, pour the recently combined dressing and toss to allow all ingredients to get coated. Let sit for 30 more minutes for the flavors to set, or feel free to dig in with the remaining fresh baguette to mop up the extra dressing for a dipping sauce.
For a more hearty meal, add some grilled chicken or smoked salmon. If adding salmon, keep the capers and add 2 tsp. dill to the dressing for extra zing!
Dipping Oil & Sauce Recipe
- 2 Cups Oviedo Olive Oil Arbequina EVOO or choice of infused – Basil, Rosemary, Garlic, Tuscan Herb
- 3 Tbsp Oviedo Olive Oil Tuscan Dipping Herbs
- 1 tsp (or to taste) Oviedo Olive Oil Tuscan Herb Sea Salt
Drizzle with 1 Tbsp Traditional Balsamic if desired
Substitute any of our oils for your desired flavor for dipping. Whether its a dessert or a charcuterie with fresh cheeses, we have an oil or vinegar for that!
So you have taken the plunge to adding a dipping sauce to your collection. Now what? You would hate to put on those five pounds you just lost by splurging on bread to enjoy the dipping sauce, so how else can you use our dipping sauces in your cooking regimen? Well our dipping oils and sauce are more than just dipping oils and sauce. Use them as your favorite marinade or a quick dressing. Here are a few ways to bring new life to some of your favorite meals.
If you are being conscious of your calories and watching what you are eating, our dipping oils are a fabulous way to cut out any unnecessary ingredients and garbage. Made with our extra virgin olive oil, vinegar (either our white or balsamic), our blend of spices and seasonings, you have a clean ingredient dressing at your fingertips. Our Tuscan Herb is a favorite to drizzle over roasted summer squash and zucchini, our Parmesan is lovely over fresh pasta, our Tomato Basil is deliciously sweet on a traditional green salad with fresh mozzarella, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and chopped pepperoni. Our Spicy Chili dipping oil is a knock out over fluffed rice with chicken or beef and the Garlic Herb is unspeakable over fresh arugula.
All of our dipping oil and sauces are chock full of our buttery extra virgin olive oil that has a delicious peppery taste, our match blend of seasonings and spices and the right amount of vinegar to deliver the mouth watering ratio of fat and acid in each bite. Because of this magical blend, our dipping oils are easily transformed into a marinade. Choose your protein and choose your oil for a dish that would rival a Michelin chef.
One of our favorite marinades in the Spicy Chili Dipping Sauce. This dipping oil is so versatile for any meat, but we especially love how it transforms beef and chicken. A pro tip: after purchasing your protein from your grocer/butcher and you plan to store in your freezer, take the meat out of the original packaging and place in a Ziploc bag with your marinade. The marinade will freeze with the meat and as it thaws, its terrific for a pre-made marinating time and not worrying about taking up counter space, fridge space, its already in the Ziploc bag and ready to be cooked once thawed.
Dipping oils and sauce have a variety of different uses besides the traditional table serving with bread. While bread is a classic go to and can please any crowd, we love to give additional ideas for your culinary adventures. From week night meals at home, to holiday baking to entertaining with a large crowd, Oviedo Olive Oil can help you use our entire line of products to wow your toughest critics or have your favorite aunt asking the secret to your recipe.
