Bert Swope
Olive oil adds depth of flavor and balance to both sweet and savory foods, complementing spices while simultaneously counteracting high acid dishes and providing an exquisite finishing oil.
Olive oils such as extra-virgin or refined olive oils are great for low-temperature cooking, while vegetable oils work better at higher heats.
Add it to smoothies
Olive oil adds richer flavors and extends satiety, making your smoothies even more satiating. Start with one tablespoon and adjust to suit. One tablespoon can easily blend into 16-ounce smoothie glasses – an effortless way to increase daily intake!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), with less processing and higher polyphenol content, is considered the superior type. Although more costly than other forms of olive oil, EVOO offers superior flavor and health benefits compared to cheaper varieties.
Substituting extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) with vegetable oil when sauteing vegetables or meats is another excellent way to increase your daily dose of healthy fats. But be careful not to overheat EVOO as its low smoke point makes it susceptible to burning quickly – light olive oil has a higher smoke point so it is better suited for sauteing veggies and meats.
Add an EVOO drizzle to cooked vegetables, soups, roasted or grilled meats, pizza, mashed potatoes, and fresh artisanal bread to elevate their flavors with antioxidants and heart-healthy fats in this olive oil. EVOO will bring something special to any dish it touches!
Substitute vegetable oil with olive oil when frying
Olive oil has many uses, from salad dressing to sauteing vegetables or holding together pasta strands, making it an invaluable ingredient. Olive oil also works well as a replacement for other cooking oils or butter in most recipes; however, the question of whether can you substitute vegetable oil in place of olive oil often remains unclear.
Olive oil’s high smoke point makes it the ideal choice for sauteing and frying on medium or low heat, while adding flavor without adding extra calories. Vegetable oil on the other hand has an extremely bland flavor profile used widely in fried foods like French fries.
EVOO can also be used to create marinades and sauces that can be added to grilled meats, chicken, or fish for maximum flavor and moisture retention. A high quality EVOO helps prevent carcinogenicities from forming on these items while helping them retain their fresh texture.
Vegetable oil is produced by extracting oils from plants, then refining them to remove any color, smell or flavor characteristics. It may come from one type of source like canola, sunflower, peanut, safflower or corn oil; alternatively, it could include multiple oils.
Due to its bland taste and lack of nutritional value, using vegetable oil in place of olive oil in any recipe is not recommended. Olive oil’s higher processing level makes it better suited for frying or baking than refined vegetable oils – however, both should still be considered high in calories when added into meals as replacements for more refined vegetable oils. Finally, remember that adding more olive oil requires moderation!
Make your own spreads and dips
One of the best uses for olive oil is making homemade spreads and dips, giving you control over salt and sugar additions and adding other ingredients such as herbs, garlic or other spices that meet your individual tastes.
Make a basic olive oil bread dip as an easy, delicious start. It requires fresh parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, balsamic vinegar and premium olive oil – perfect as an appetizer to share with guests or snacking on while watching television!
Use your extra virgin olive oil in an impressive yet simple manner by creating homemade crostini. All it takes are some thin slices of toast bread (I prefer sourdough), and drizzles of premium quality olive oil – even some chopped fresh herbs such as basil or minced garlic can add flair.
Olive oil makes an excellent dipping or drizzling oil due to its light body and pleasant taste in the mouth, as well as being an ideal way to absorb other flavors and spices – offering a healthier alternative than butter or margarine!
At high temperatures, extra virgin olive oil can quickly lose its beneficial nutrients and change chemically over time, degrading protective nutrients and altering its chemical makeup. Other oils might hold up better when heated, such as canola or sunflower oil; if you decide to cook with olive oil, it is wise to purchase high-quality, cold-pressed varieties with harvest dates to guarantee freshness of the product.
Use it in marinades or sauces
Excellent olive oil enhances the flavors in any dish. It can reveal subtleties of traditional spices and seasonings while soothing acidity levels, such as in tomatoes, vinegar, wine, or lemon juice. There are different olive oils tailored for specific foods; robust oils work great when cooking meat & fish or marinading; medium-intensity olive oils can be great for dipping bread, dressing salads with vinaigrette dressings, or drizzling over bold ingredients like garlic or peppers.
EVOO boasts a high smoke point, meaning it can withstand moderate heat while maintaining its healthy polyphenols. Use it as an alternative to vegetable or sunflower oils in frying and sauteing recipes; sauteing portabella mushrooms or shallow frying eggs using EVOO is an easy way to enjoy breakfast favorites without exposing yourself to unhealthy saturated and trans-fats.
Marinades offer an easy and flavorful way to increase the olive oil intake in your diet. As the oil penetrates and soaks into ingredients in a marinade, it can then be applied directly onto meat, seafood or vegetables for an flavor explosion. Dairy-based marinades such as buttermilk or yogurt marinades may further tenderize meat by breaking down proteins and tendons through calcium interaction.
Addition of olive oil to sauces helps them emulsify, making them thicker and creamier. Try stirring some tablespoons into spaghetti sauce to thicken it or replacing butter in mashed potatoes with olive oil for a heart-healthier option.
Bake an olive oil cake
Olive oil makes an excellent finishing oil that can enhance salads, roasted vegetables, pizza, seafood dishes, mashed potatoes and artisanal bread. Olive oil also works wonderfully as a marinade for meat, fish and poultry, making a fantastic marinade option when used in soups or pasta dishes – not forgetting adding an unexpected splash of color in morning smoothies and afternoon salads!
Substituting olive oil for butter when baking can reduce saturated fat intake while simultaneously improving texture and flavor of dishes. However, it should be remembered that olive oil does not act like butter when baked; its use may alter the structure and consistency of final products.
For optimal results, select an extra virgin olive oil with mild and fruity notes, cake flour rather than all-purpose, which will create a lighter and more delicate texture, as well as a nonstick cooking spray or parchment lining the pan for easy release from baking.
Add just a few teaspoons of high-quality olive oil to any soup to enhance its depth and complexity of flavor, particularly those containing chicken, beef, or vegetable stocks; it can also help decrease salt, acidity, and greasiness levels in your meal.
An effective and simple way to add more olive oil to your meals is through making pesto. Pesto is a versatile sauce that can be used as a topping on pasta, fish, or chicken dishes, alongside grilled vegetables, or as spread on sandwiches – plus it only requires minimal ingredients from your pantry or can even be purchased pre-made at grocery stores!
