You may think you know olive oil, but you have no idea.
Ok, that’s a bit dramatic. We all probably know and love olive oil, but I recently learned some things about this wonderful liquid that I thought you would like to know, too, so it’s May’s Ingredient of the Month!
Tell me more about olive oil:
Olive oil is the liquid fat from pressed olives. It is very commonly used in cooking, as well as salad dressings. Olive oil comes from all over the world: Spain, Greece, Italy, California. It’s fun to try different olive oils because they all taste unique from fruity to peppery and more.
Where can I buy olive oil:
You can buy olive oil at any grocery store. I really like to get mine from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.
Extra Tips:
- Go Fresh– When you buy it, look for the two dates on the bottle (get oil in a glass bottle not plastic, too). One date is the harvest date and the later one is the best by date. Look for oil that is fresher!
- Glass Not Plastic– Buy olive oil that’s in a glass bottle not plastic.
- EVOO– Always buy extra virgin olive oil.
- Don’t Buy Too Much– Another tip when you’re buying olive oil, only buy what you can use within a few months. You really don’t want your oil sitting around for longer than that to be at its peak freshness.
When you get home with it, taste it! Make sure it tastes good to you. If it doesn’t, then return it. This is a good way to know what the oil tastes like and will cook like before using it.
How do I store olive oil:
Store your olive oil in a cool, dark place (like in the pantry or cabinet near your stove). Heat and light can both damage the oil’s taste.
How do I cook with olive oil:
You already know there are a million ways to cook with olive oil, but maybe we can discover a few more together?!
Since olive oil has a lower smoke point, I like to use grapeseed oil as my sauteeing/cooking oil and reserve olive oil for roasting vegetables, cooking a crispy fried egg, or using as a finishing oil or dressing.
Here are some other ways to use that delicious olive oil:
- Dress that lentil salad or farro salad (or I like to just mix oil and balsamic or red wine vinegar for a quick dressing)
- Make a quick and healthy dip
- Top your fresh homemade pizza (or za’atar pizza) with a drizzle of oil
- Make a super moist chocolate cake
- Use it in your fave granola recipe instead of coconut or vegetable oil
- Make a simple pasta with garlic and olive oil
- Top your homemade or store-bought hummus with it
- Make a pesto