Extra Virgin Olive Oil Cooking Tips

Our extra virgin olive oils are first cold pressed and sourced from two hemispheres to ensure the highest quality and freshness from various small scale producers. Our amazingly thick balsamic vinegars are from Modena, Italy and are aged up to 25 years. All of our extra virgin olive oils and our balsamic vinegars are organic and infused with natural ingredients with no artificial flavours, colours, additives, or preservatives. The only two artificially infused olive oils we stock is our bacon and butter flavoured. The rinds of the fruits and the actually herbs are pressed with the olive to give our olive oils their full flavour!

Health Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oils

  • Olive oils contain naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants.
  • EVOO also has more polyphenols, which have health benefits for the heart.
  • Olive oil is a healthy fat which to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
  • EVOO have more monounsaturated fatty acids than any other oil.

Amazing Way You Can Use Olive-Me & Co. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • Use as a bread dipper by using 2 parts oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar
  • A mild salad dressing  by using2 parts olive oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar
  • Strong salad dressing equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The vinegar  extra vinegar will give it  a fuller flavour!
  • Use as a meat marinade for all your chicken, pork, beef, seafood, tofu and vegetables…a great marinade uses equal parts olive oil to equal parts dark or white balsamic. White balsamic pairs well with your white meats!
  • Sauces for meat and seafood including using our chili balsamic has a bbq sauce…equal parts white balsamic and olive oil for your fish and seafood; equal parts dark balsamic and olive oil for you meata
  • drizzle olive oil or blasamic on your pizza, pasta, risotto, grains
  • brush onto bread like grilled cheese, panini sandwiches, garlic bread, baguettes, English muffins or crostinis!
  • infuse into a pasta sauce
  • Use our butter flavour EVOO or any of flavour our flavour infused balsamics or olive oils to bake into a cake, muffins or cookies
  • Make great bruschetta bread
  • use in your favourite hummus recipes and olive tapenade
  • use to sauté and or stir fry all your vegetables, meat and fish
  • pour over baked potatoes with fresh herbs, sea salt and cracked black pepper
  • add to your favorite mashed potatoes
  • toss onto new potatoes and/or vegetables and grill or roast
  • drizzle on popcorn
  • marinate your favorite cheeses like feta, mozzarella, goat cheese, carmelizedonion cheese
  • makes amazing pesto
  • make your own aioli
  • use on your favourite pizza
  • toss on your cooked pasta, parmesan cheese and fresh cracked pepper
  • use in potato salads, coleslaw salads instead of mayonnaise
  • use in bean salads and marinated vegetable salads
  • drizzle over ice cream or over fresh fruit
  • freeze our Roasted Garlic EVOO in a small quantity to make garlic butter

Good to Know Information

What is Balsamic Vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar is made from white Trebbiano grapes in the northern Italian region. The grapes have a high sugar content, and their unfermented juice is used to make the vinegar. The balsamic vinegar is aged for three or more years and has a dark, syrupy consistency with a strong flavor. Some of the balsamic vinegar that is available in the store is synthesized and includes high amounts of caramel and sugar. However, true and natural balsamic vinegar is available as well and offers rewarding health benefits.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants work to repair damage caused by free radicals, which are products produced by the oxygen used in our body. Balsamic vinegar contains polyphenols, antioxidants that can protect the body from heart disease and cancer. The grapes that are used to make balsamic vinegar also contain antioxidants that fight against cell damage, improve the body’s immune system and make blood platelets more flexible, thus preventing heart or circulation problems.

Health Benefits of Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar can be used as a substitute for salad dressing or marinades. When used in place of other dressings or marinades that are more fattening, it results in a lower caloric intake. Balsamic vinegar also works to suppress the body’s appetite and increase the amount of time it takes for the stomach to empty, which can contribute to weight loss by preventing overeating. According to Nutritional Data, balsamic vinegar is a source of calcium, iron, manganese and potassium, which improve the body’s functioning and weight loss abilities.

Digestive System and Diabetes

The digestive system can benefit greatly from balsamic vinegar. The vinegar boosts the activity of pepsin, an enzyme that breaks protein down into smaller amino acids that can be more easily absorbed by the body. Pepsin helps to improve the body’s metabolism as well. Balsamic vinegar can also improve insulin sensitivity for diabetics, allowing for an easier regulation of blood sugar and reducing unpleasant side effects from diabetes.

Butter/Margarine to Olive Oil Conversion Chart

Butter/Margarine          Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp…………………………………………………………..3/4 tsp
1 tbsp……………………………………………………….2 1/4 tsp
1/4 cup……………………………………………………3 Tbsp
1/3 cup…………………………………………………….1/4 cup
1/2 cup…………………………………………………….1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp
2/3 cup……………………………………………………1/2 cup
3/4 cup……………………………………………………1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp
1 cup………………………………………………………….3/4 cup

Amazing Ways to Use our Balsamic Vinegar In Your Kitchen

  • bread dipper 2 parts oil or any flavoured oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar
  • mild salad dressing 2 parts olive oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar
  • strong salad dressing equal parts of both olive oil and balsamic vinegar
  • makes a great marinade for chicken, pork, beef, seafood, tofu and vegetables equal parts olive oil to equal parts dark or white balsamic
  • add a few drops to your bottled water and shake it up for a flavour infusion
  • great sauce for meat and seafood our chili balsamic or white honey ginger equal parts white balsamic and olive oil for fish equal parts dark balsamic and olive oil for meat)
  • dip parmesan cheese into balsamic
  • drizzle onto roasted or grilled vegetables
  • drizzle into soups and stews for added flavour
  • reduce over high heat and use as a glaze for meat, fish and vegetables
  • drizzle on top of bruschetta, crostini, pizza, pasta, grains
  • pour over ice cream, berries or fruit
  • drizzle fig balsamic over sliced tomatoes with mozzarella and fresh basil
  • drizzle inside of grilled cheese and panini sandwiches
  • use in bean and pasta salads
  • drinking a spoonful daily to aid digestion
  • add to ketchup and/or bbq sauce for added flavour and tang
  • drizzle on cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto

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