Special Infused Olive Oil Adds Some Spice
If you are looking for a thoughtful and inexpensive gift for the foodie in our life, consider the flavors your chef may be most interested in and infuse them in olive oil. With just a few ingredients, you can make delicious flavored olive oil bursting with flavor, after tastes and aromas. These infused olive oils below are some of the more common to make, and they are perfect for drizzling over seafood and vegetables, dipping into with bread, jazzing up a salad, sautéing, stir frying and so many more. Below are some tips on how to go about infusing olive oil.
Infusing Olive Oil with Spices
Flavor olive oil with whole or ground spices. If you want to use ground, buy the spices whole and grind them at home for the freshest and most pungent flavors possible. You can infuse spices into oil in two ways: in the oven or stovetop. Once the oil is infused, strain it using a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth and funnel the liquid into the bottle. Some spices you might want to try include cloves, star anise, mustard, dried red pepper flakes and annatto seeds.
Infusing Olive Oil with Herbs
When infusing oil with herbs, always use fresh herbs. They have a more vibrant flavor than dried and gives the oil a brighter color. Wash and dry the herbs thoroughly before you start. When infusing soft herbs, blanch, shock, drain and blend them with extra vigin oil before applying heating. On the other hand, woody herbs can be directly heated in the oil to infuse their flavor. Some herbs to try include mint, thyme, rosemary, oregano and parsley.
Infusing Olive Oil with Aromatics
Olive oil infused with onion, garlic and other aromatic vegetables is great for cooking oils and dipping oils. Make sure that you properly wash and dry the aromatics, even after they’ve been peeled to remove any trace of impurities and dirt. Unlike herbs, leaving the aromatics in the oil after bottling will not result in cloudiness; aromatic will continue to infuse the oil, and their flavors grows stronger over time. Some aromatics to try include garlic, onion, shallot, lemongrass and ginger.
Infusing Olive Oil with Citrus
Citrus zest can flavor olive oil and give a bright, tangy flavor. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the zest easily and effectively. Make sure that you wash and dry the fruit before starting, and use organically grown citrus fruits as much as possible to prevent pesticides used to treat the fruit making its way into the infused oil. Do your best to only remove the zest, and not the white pith. Some citrus fruits to try include lemon, lime, orange, tangerine and clementine’s.
Infusing Olive Oil with Nuts
To make nut-infused olive oils, start with raw and unsalted nuts. Save time by purchasing nuts that are blanched or skinned already. Cook the nuts in oil to impart a savory, roasted flavor, but remember that the resulting infused oil tastes different from actual nut oils which are made by pressing oils out of crushed nuts. Leaving the nuts in the oil adds a texture and color contrast to the finished product. Some nuts you may want to try including almond, walnut, hazelnut, cashew and pecans.
Infusing Olive Oil Blends
Mix and match your favorite herbs, spices, nuts, citrus and aromatics to create with a truly unique oil blend. If you are making an oil that involves the use of various techniques, make sure you write your process down so that you can repeat the process.
When refrigerated, chili infused olive oil for example can last for up to several months when properly stored. If you will give them as gifts, include storage and serving instructions. If you are not confident with your olive oil infusion skills, you can find infused olive oils online or from an Olive Oil Shop in Montgomery County PA. You can buy infused olive oil for cooking or use in salads and dipping. Have fun creating your favorite flavors.
