Olive Oil and the food it goes with
Pairing Olive Oil with Food
The quality of any extra-virgin olive oil is dependant on several factors; namely the climate, variety of olive, method of harvesting and production process. Extra-virgin olive oils come in many different varieties and the aroma, taste and color of each varies from region to region.
Generally speaking, the Liguria and Lake Garda regions in Veneto produce some of the lightest Italian olive oils while Tuscan and Umbrian olive oils are richer and fruitier and Sicilian, Sardinian and Calabrian oils are
lighter but fuller. Oils from the same region can differ widely in terms of taste and flavor. Conditions such as the type of processing method used and the time at which the olives are harvested all contribute to the eventual flavor of the final product. Tasting the various olive oils available in the market and deciding which one would suit your cooking best is always a fun activity. There are, however, some general guidelines that you should follow in order to ensure good results when you use olive oil to cook or as a dressing.
You should treat olive oil in the same manner as you treat wine. Using low grade wine in cooking would give food an unpleasant taste. The same applies to olive oil. Also, you must make sure that the taste and flavor of the olive oil you choose is suitable for the type of food that you are preparing. The three flavor classifications – mild, fruity and fruity-spicy – are each suitable for certain types of food. Mild olive oil goes well with delicate preparations that do not contain garlic. Pasta sauces with garlic, herbs, spices and salads all taste excellent when paired with fruity olive oils. Fruity-spicy olive oils work best with grilled meats and roasts, dishes containing generous amounts of garlic and spices and aged cheeses. Before you decide to cook with it, you should always taste the olive oil in order to determine what sort of food will be best served with it. Always remember that the taste of olive oil is most intense when it is used raw.
Remember, cooking and serving quality ingredients offer the best results of your food preparation, especially so with olive oil.
olive oil with food
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