Creative Ways to Enhance Your Meals with Olive Oil

Most people are familiar with the benefits of a Mediterranean diet. Its fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats offer a diet that is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, and is known to lower the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and weight gain.

These health benefits are often attributed to olive oil, the key ingredient of this diet. As a result, this golden liquid is commonly considered the elixir of life and has become renowned for both its life and flavor enhancing qualities. Compatible with a range of flavors from sweet and salty to acidic and bitter, olive oil is a highly versatile cooking aid which can be incorporated into a number of dishes, and in a number of different ways.

In this article, we’ll explore some creative ways to unleash the potential of this Mediterranean miracle, helping you enhance your dishes as well as your culinary repertoire.

In a Marinade

Intensify the flavor of a meat, chicken or fish dish by allowing your ingredients to bathe in an olive-oil marinade. You can add garlic, lemon zest, herbs, and spices to your liquid base, allowing it to coat your ingredients and infuse them with its rich flavors and juiciness. 

Whether it’s for a few hours or overnight, allow your olive oil marinade to be fully absorbed, allowing the mixture to tenderize any meat and the flavors to penetrate your dish. If you have friends or family who love to use olive oil in their dishes, consider treating them to one of these holiday gift sets for foodies.

As a Salad Dressing

Olive oil can make a great accompaniment to a simple salad, and bring out the freshness, flavor profile and texture of your seasonal ingredients. Add a splash of vinegar or a squeeze of citrus to your oil to create a delicious vinaigrette which can be further enhanced with garlic, dijon mustard and seasoning if you so choose.  Coating your vegetables in this delicious dressing can quickly transform a plain salad into a zesty and vibrant dish.

Drizzled Over a Dish

Add the pièce de résistance to your dish with a drizzle of olive oil at the end to give it a burst of flavor, richness and an elegant finishing touch. Its smooth, velvety texture can round off a variety of dishes including hearty soups, roasted meats, grilled fish, pizzas and pastas. In addition to providing a glossy finish to these main dishes, oil oil can also be drizzled over a crusty piece of bread to enhance its flavor profile and a touch of richness to each bite.

To Sauté Vegetables

With its relatively high smoke point, olive oil is suited to cooking at high temperatures and can make an excellent substitute for butter when sautéing a medley of vegetables. Its ability to complement the flavor of your vegetables and bring out their natural sweetness without overpowering them, makes it an ideal oil for this type of cooking. It is also a healthier alternative to butter, ensuring your dish is low in saturated fats and high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which help to lower your cholesterol.

With all these suggestions to whet your appetite, why not try out some olive-oil inspired ideas in your kitchen?