Olive oil is what I like to call the cornerstone of my cooking. You can always find a bottle or two of rich, full-bodied EVOO in the Rye pantry; we use it in practically everything. Not only is the flavor irresistible and versatile, olive oil is loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats and anti-inflammatory benefits. Win-win, I’d say!
I’ve bought herb infused olive oil that we’ve enjoyed in the past, but it’s pricey for being something that’s simple enough (and cheaper!) to make at home. This brought me to start infusing olive oil with fresh herbs from my own garden this summer to great success. But it was recently that I set out to mix my own DIY herb infused olive oil with essential oils, rather than fresh herbs. I find myself going through olive oil faster than I can grow herbs (especially in these cold winter months) and infuse the oil (it usually takes a few weeks for the oil to get properly infused with the full flavor), so I was intrigued with the idea of infusing the oils with the high-quality essential oils.
You know I’ve never been big on DIY’s, but this homemade herb infused olive oil is one I can get behind; it’s incredibly easy and a flavor difference you can truly taste. I simply use a few drops of rosemary vitality essential oil, basil vitality essential oil and thyme vitality essential oil in place of a handful of fresh herbs with organic, unrefined and unfiltered olive oil. You can most certainly mix your essential oils; try combinations with lemon and rosemary, or basil and black pepper (you’ll only want to use 3-4 drops of essential oil total). I like to store the herb infused olive oil in a glass olive oil cruet, which is perfect for gifting or leaving on the counter.
This simple recipe tastes incredible as a simple salad dressing, a drizzle over pasta dishes, a dip for artisan bread, or a chicken marinade. Other essential oils to consider infusing include lemon, orange, oregano, lemongrass, dill, and spicy black pepper vitality essential oils. Tell me friends, will you be mixing up some homemade herb infused olive oils? Truly, MKR
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