Who doesn’t love a delicious garlic-infused olive oil drizzled over pasta, mixed into your favorite salad dressing or simply as a tasty dip for your favorite bread? As mouth-watering as that might sound, today, I want to introduce you to some infused olive oils you might never have heard of and give you some ideas for using them to add spectacular new flavors to your cooking.
As mouth-watering as that might sound, today, I want to introduce you to some infused olive oils you might never have heard of and give you some ideas for using them to add spectacular new flavors to your cooking.
Did you know you can use blood orange olive oil for baking delicious cakes? Or you can toss tagliatelle in white-truffle infused olive oil for an indulgent treat meal?
So, let me introduce you to some new, and personally, I think, the best flavored infused olive oils you can use to add an exciting twist to your cooking.
Oils Infused with Herbs
Tuscan Herbs - Oregano, Rosemary, Marjoram and Garlic
One of the most delicious olive oils I’ve ever tasted is our Tuscan Herb Infused Olive Oil containing oregano, rosemary, marjoram and garlic.
I use this to saute and grill just about anything chicken, vegetables, you name it! The mix of herbs infused into the oil gives anything it touches a spectacular flavor.
You can also use it in pasta sauces and marinades, and it’s perfect on its own as a dipping oil for bread.
Basil Infused Olive Oil
If you’re after a burst of freshness in your cooking, basil-infused olive oil might be just what you’re looking for in marinades, salads and, of course, for bread dipping.
It’s also delicious brushed on vegetables or chicken. A summer salad or caprese drizzled with basil-infused oil is bound to get your taste buds tingling!
Herbes de Provence - Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme and Bay.
I couldn’t leave this classic off my list of best-flavored infused olive oils!
Herbs de Provence-infused olive oil packs a punch, and it’s a total show-stopper drizzled over grilled lamb or chicken.
It’s also delicious when used in marinades, brushed on vegetables or chicken that is ready to be roasted or grilled.
Oils Infused With Spices
Harissa Infused Olive Oil
Traditionally used in North African and Middle Eastern cuisines, Harissa is a spice mix made from dried hot chili peppers, garlic, toasted caraway, coriander, and toasted cumin, then pounded into a paste with olive oil.
Harissa-infused olive is very spicy, but it’s perfect for adding to sauces and marinades if you want an extra hot kick in your cooking!
Black Pepper Infused Olive Oil
This delicious spicy but floral-tasting black pepper-infused olive oil is excellent for marinades, salad dressings, creamy pasta sauces and even drizzled over ice cream!
And while we’re talking about unusual ways to use olive oil, why don’t you try popping your pop corn in it?
Chili Infused Olive Oil
The chili oil I want to introduce you to is like no other chili oil around! This oil is infused with the rare Tunisian Baklouti pepper, which is unique to this region of North Africa.
It’s made by combining fresh, early-harvest organic olives with an almost equal ratio of fresh, whole green Baklouti chilies. These two ingredients are crushed together and mixed in the malaxer, which fuses the fresh green essential oil of the pepper with the organic olive oil.
This extra-special olive oil adds a savory kick to salsas, marinades, soups, grilled foods, vegetables and anything else you can think of.
But be careful, this one is very hot!!
Oils Infused with Fruits
Who knew you could infuse olive oil with fruit? Well, you certainly can, and here are some of my favorites.
Lemon Infused Olive Oil
Like chili olive oil, lemon-infused olive oil is produced by pressing whole, fresh lemons with early harvest olives. It has a delicious, light, refreshing flavor that’s perfect with shrimp or scallops or to drizzle on chicken or fish.
You can also use lemon-infused olive oil for baking and even use it in your granola!
Blood Orange Infused Olive Oil
One of my favorite fruit-infused olive oils is made with fresh blood oranges, which are pressed with early-harvest olives. Crushing the oranges and the oil together creates a beautiful combination of whole, fresh citrus fruits crushed with early harvest olives.
It is an incredibly versatile oil and can be used in marinades for seafood, chicken and pork. It can be drizzled over fruit and into salads, and yes, you can bake with it too.
Why don’t you check out our recipe for the best-ever Orange Olive Olive infused cake?
Indulgent Infused Olive Oils
And before I go, I couldn’t leave without mentioning a truly indulgent infused olive oil.
If you like the flavor and aroma of white truffle, then you’ll love this truffle-infused oil. It has an intense white truffle aroma and is excellent for finishing Mediterranean dishes.
How about adding a drizzle to mashed potatoes or over your popcorn?
But be very careful; a little goes a long way!
Which One Will You Try First?
I hope I’ve inspired you to explore the world of infused olive oils and that you now have some exciting ideas for adding new flavors to your cooking.
There are endless possibilities for you to explore, from making herby marinades to spicy salsas, delicious sweets and even truffle oil-drizzled popcorn.
And if you’re keen to try one or two of these ideas out, all the oils I talked about today are available in our store, so why not visit us if you're in Florida and near us in Islamorada?
Or, if that’s a bit far to come, check out our online store.
