Top 10 Olive Oils With Heart and Soul

There's More to Cooking Than EVOO

By Cal Orey

"EVOO"

--Rachael Ray

When I woke up this morning at 5:00 A.M. I admit that extra virgin olive oil didn't play a part in my dreams... It's a surreal experience to be up at the crack of dawn. It's fresh. It's pristine. It's simple. So, I had one cup of java (a dollop of whipped cream), one banana, and organic vanilla yogurt with fresh blackberries.

I'm beginning to think my purist eating style (and life) is getting to be a bit bland. It's time for a change and now that I'm wide-eyed and bushy tailed olive oil can help me add some variety and spice to my diet as well as yours.

World-renowned chef Mario Batali said that "olive oil is as precious as gold." TV Celeb Chef Rachel Ray, uses catchy phrases such as "EVOO" in reference to extra virgin olive oil. Nothing newsy about that. But, but, but did you know that there is wide, wide world of flavored olive oils that you can use in both cooking and baking?

No doubt, my sleeping two bird dogs and kitty would perk up if I started dishing up more plain fish, turkey, chicken, and duck. I'll stick with the fish but try herbal flavored oils with veggies, pastas, stir-fries, and breads. (Note to self: Find savvy matchmaker to find me a tall, lanky, dark, handsome chef with a sense of humor to melt my heart. Must love dogs, and pay social calls to me at Lake Tahoe during blizzards in the winter, not just the good old summertime.)

Meanwhile, back on Earth, here's some flavored oil with gusto to warm up you and yours year-round.

Top 10 Oils With Heart And Soul

1. Basil olive oil: dipping, drizzling, vegetables, tomatoes, tomato-based sauces, Southeast Asian cuisine, soups, salads, pastas, stir-fries

2. Garlic-flavored olive oil: sauteeing, vegetables, pasta

3. Jalapeno olive oil: sauteing vegetables, pasta

4. Lemon-flavored olive oil: salads, fish, chicken

5. Lime-flavored olive oil: salads, fish
6. Orange-flavored olive oil: chicken, duck

7. Oregano olive oil: tomatoes, pizza, tomato-based sauces, pastas, dressings

8. Pepper olive oil: sauteing, roasting, eggs, seafood, Southwest cuisine

9. Porcini olive oil: veggie dishes

10. Rosemary olive oil: roasted potatoes, eggplant, artichokes, asparagus, dressings, breads

(Source: The Healing Powers of Olive Oil by Cal Orey, published by Kensington)