Cooking tips with olive oil: how to take your dishes to the next level
Olive oil is not just healthy, but also a true taste wizard in the kitchen. With the right approach you can turn even simple dishes into culinary highlights. You wonder how to get the maximum flavour and joy from the “liquid gold” out? In this post we share our best cooking tips with olive oil, so you can take your dishes to the next level. Whether you’re a home cook, foodie, or novice at the stove, these tips will help you make every meal a little bitter better (and healthier) by making it a little bit better and healthier than ever.
• Tip 2: Don't worry about heat. It is a common myth that you can't fry with olive oil. That's not true! Good olive oil is heat-stable and perfectly suited for searing vegetables, meat and more as long as you don't overheat the pan. Up to about 180°C keeps everything in the green zone – which corresponds to a medium to high heat setting, before the oil starts to smoke. So just have a little courage: Braise your Mediterranean vegetables gently in olive oil and enjoy the aroma as it rises. It's important to remember that you need to be careful when the oil starts to smoke – then it's better to turn down.
• Tip 4: Spice up dressings and dips . A crisp salad without good dressing is like a summer without the sun. Olive oil forms the basis for countless dressings – from classic (with vinegar, mustard, honey) to exotic (with orange juice or pomegranate syrup). Pay attention to the ratio: Often 3 parts oil to 1 part acid (vinegar/lemon) plus spices, to create a balanced dressing by mixing. Dips also benefit from the “liquid gold”: With hummus, for example, a good splash of olive oil ensures a creamy consistency and rich flavor. Or try mixing olive oil, garlic and herbs into plain yogurt – it’s ready in a flash and tastes like a vacation in Italy. Savory baked goods like focaccia or ciabatta rely on good olive oil in the dough, and on top. Your bakery will smell like an Italian panetteria !
• Tip 6: Finish with flair. The easiest (and perhaps best) way to use olive oil is to use it as a finisher. Just before serving, add a fine drizzle of olive oil over the dish – it adds shine and a final burst of flavor. Whether over steaming pasta, crispy pizza, creamy soup or even vanilla ice cream (yes, a drizzle of high-quality olive oil over vanilla ice cream with a pinch of sea salt is an insider tip for adventurous cooks!) – the finish opens up the flavors and makes it go from “good” to “brilliant”. You can flavor your dishes with chili, garlic or herbs by steeping them for a few weeks in oil and letting it sit for a few weeks gives you a special flavored oil ready to spruce up dishes in a jiffy.
Bottom line: Cooking with passion and olive oil
Olive oil is the faithful companion, which can transform everyday recipes into little feasts and can work magic in no time. With these tips, you'll become an olive oil expert in the kitchen and impress family and friends alike. Always remember: Cooking is love and olive oil is at its heart – especially, when it is in every bottle a story from sunny olive groves carries. So grab your MASINO olive oil, experiment with passion and have fun with sizzling, tasting, and enjoying. Your dishes will thank you for it. Bon Appetit and have fun with Next-Level-Cooking!
