Olive oil of the highest category (extra virgin) is essentially freshly squeezed olive juice, which professionals call first–pressed oil. This oil is obtained by cold pressing the fruits and separating the excess liquid in a centrifuge. Fresh olive is a capricious product, and within a day after harvesting it begins to oxidize, lose its shape, taste and aroma, so olives are turned into oil as close as possible to the place of collection and never transport fruits over long distances. This means that the first-pressed oil retains the unique aroma of olives of the region where it was made. Notes of flowers and fruits, artichokes and fresh grass.
Such a bright personality requires careful handling: extra virgin olive oil works best in its natural form at room temperature in salads, appetizers, sauces and even in cold desserts. Many manufacturers enrich its notes with additional flavors – basil, lemon zest, garlic, dried tomatoes and truffle. So the oil turns into a ready-made refined dressing. It is enough to dip a piece of ciabatta in olive oil with the aroma of noble white truffle to feel a powerful polyphony of flavors.
Olive Oil for Frying
Many home cooks are sure that frying and stewing in extra virgin olive oil is not right. From the heat, fragile natural flavors are destroyed, the oil changes texture and color, and the piquant bitterness turns into outright bitterness. But this is only partially true. In fact, the so–called “smoking point” (that is, the temperature limit after which all of the above irreversible processes begin to occur in the oil) even in first-pressed oil is quite high – up to 180 ° C, depending on the acidity of the product. In other words, if the dish is slowly languishing or baked in the oven with gentle heating, extra virgin oil releases all its flavor and transmits it to the products, which is exclusively beneficial for fish, meat or vegetables. This is the secret, for example, of the Provencal ratatouille – only mixed vegetables cooked in “virgin” olive oil turn into a luxurious, fragrant southern sun whole.
But if we are talking about high temperatures – deep-frying or frying in a hot frying pan, then the temperature shock will kill all living things. For these purposes, it is logical to use refined olive oil: it is sold both in pure form and mixed with a small amount of extra virgin (usually in a percentage ratio of 80:20). This oil is a workhorse in the kitchen, it is more affordable and absolutely universal, suitable for salad dressings and frying in a frying pan. Due to the high density, olive oil practically does not penetrate into the product during frying. And this is good news for those who want to eat a ruddy steak and observe the principles of a healthy diet: after frying, it is easy to remove excess olive oil with a paper towel.
It is worth considering that due to the high density, olive oil practically does not penetrate into the product during frying. The only thing to avoid is deep–frying and a hot frying pan
Baked cabbage rolls from Peking cabbage, minced chicken with rice and cottage cheese with vegetables. Cabbage rolls I cooked on ketsi. Ketsi is a baking tray made of red clay, which can be put both in the oven and in the oven. Kezi is not covered with anything, only made of clay. 100% eco-friendly product. (Georgia.) The products in it are prepared in their own juice. It turns out a healthy and very tasty dish. For this dish, you can use any shape or a deep baking tray that can be put in the oven.
Who doesn’t like poppy seed cakes? Probably like everyone else! I offer you a simple cookie with natural orange juice squeezed from an orange, without eggs, olive oil. We can say that it is not very nutritious, it will go well in the post. Crumbly, with poppy seeds, in general, very tasty. It flies “like seeds” from the table!
So autumn has come into its own. The street is getting fresher day by day. Still, of course, not winter frosts, but absolutely winter, saturated, thick, hearty soups so far, it seems, I don’t really want. But I want something light, but, nevertheless, warming. That’s where ginger and hot pepper will come to our aid. Delicate consistency, slightly spicy, this soup will perfectly warm and surprise with unusual flavor combinations. To make this soup, it is better to use sweet pink tomatoes or other, but not necessarily meaty varieties. Honey and lime in the composition is a good prevention of colds.
I’ve always loved eggplant caviar, it’s right from childhood). When eggplant season comes, the first thing I cook is eggplant caviar. I know several recipes for this overseas snack). Today I propose to cook “Oriental Aviar”. Perhaps you may ask – why “oriental caviar”? Because it was in the East that eggplants were first baked, and then finely mixed with lemon juice and sesame paste. According to the same recipe, caviar is prepared with fresh vegetables, without excess butter, which is perfectly combined with a piece of white fragrant bread. It seems to me that this is the perfect snack and a great snack!
As you know, tart is an open pie. I suggest you bake a simple pie, but with an excellent result. There is no need to mess with the text, you just need to take a layer of yeast-free puff pastry. Minimum filling: zucchini, cream cheese or any fatty cottage cheese, egg. 40 minutes – and the pie is ready!
Tender chicken, fragrant and delicious sauce – and all this in combination with white rice, seasoned with cilantro and pomegranate… I really liked this dish, I strongly recommend you to cook it!
Very slightly spicy dressing, but very juicy, garlic-honey, but not every taste separately, but as a single taste. It’s hard to describe in words. We really liked it!
