Flavoured Olive Oils make great presents especially Christmas presents for male teachers or the foodies in your life.
Unfortunately, infusing olive oils with fresh ingredients like lemon, garlic or rosemary can open the door for bacteria to grow because of the water content in the fresh ingredients. That’s why culinary essential oils are a great alternative for flavouring your olive oil.
Benefits of Olive Oil
You’ve probably heard of the Mediterranean diet and how healthy it is for you. This is because they consume a lot of fish, fresh vegetables and olives. Olives contain hydroxytyrosol, a naturally occurring compound that contributes to the fruit’s healthy reputation.
What essential oils can I use in my Flavoured Olive Oils?
The Internet is rife with articles about how essential oils can’t be used internally. And you know what? Most of the time they can’t. Why? Because most essential oils are produced for the perfume industry and these companies use the essential oils for their smell and not their quality or purity. Consequently, they are definitely not food grade, nor labelled as such. However, essential oils have been used in cooking for years. It’s just that they have been labelled as food essences.
Warning– ALWAYS check the label on the bottle to see if an essential oil can be used in cooking and drinks before doing so, as you don’t want to end up doing more harm than good.
That’s why I only use and recommend Young Living Essential Oils as their Culinary range is compliant with Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) labelling requirements for adding to food and beverages.
So which essential oils do I add to my flavoured olive oils?
Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary is a flavourful herb that’s celebrated for its role in the culinary world, especially in Italian dishes. Rosemary essential oil lends a uniquely herbaceous taste to every dish it’s featured in, making it perfect for many savoury recipes.
Basil Essential Oil
This herb is found in a variety of dishes and is popular in both Asian and European cooking. With Basil essential oil, it’s easy to add this well-loved seasoning to whatever you like. Using an essential oil, you can get a brighter flavour than dried herbs, without the hassle of fresh herbs.
Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) comes from the popular oregano plant, which is a member of the mint family and is native to areas of western Asia and the Mediterranean. Its warm, herbaceous qualities have made the plant a popular ingredient in Greek and Italian cuisine, but there are many Oregano oil uses in topical and aromatic applications as well.
Oregano essential oil is an easy way to flavour savoury dishes. Its distinctive, pungent taste makes it an indispensable addition to Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines, though it can be used in a variety of cuisines and recipes.
Thyme Essential Oil
Thyme essential oil is the concentrated distillation of Thyme, a classic and beloved kitchen herb. Thyme essential oil can be used in place of the dried spice in your favourite dishes and is always easy to keep on hand.
Parsley Essential Oil
Just a drop delivers all the crisp, green flavour of fresh parsley, one of the world’s most popular culinary herbs. Add a drop of Parsley essential oil to your favourite recipes and enjoy its bright and refreshing properties.
Marjoram Essential Oil
Steam distilled from the leaves of the plant, Marjoram essential oil has a similar flavour to oregano. It’s perfect for complementing delicate-tasting foods like fish and vegetables dishes. Marjoram is found in many savoury dishes, especially in Italian cuisine.
Make your own flavoured Olive Oils – they make great gifts.
Ingredients:
240mls of good quality Olive Oil
4 drops of your favourite Young Living Culinary Oil such as Young Living Rosemary essential oil, Lemon, Basil, Oregano or Thyme.
Method:
Add the essential oils to a 240ml glass bottlefill up with Olive Oil. Decorate with your own labels and gift to family and friends.
Flavoured Olive Oils go well with dukkah or even with a nice balsamic vinegar.
Check out the video below to see us make Flavoured Olive Oils
Reed more about using essential oils in cooking and drinks in this Blog post – Can you use essential oils in cooking and drinks?
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