We often discuss pairing food and wine, and with good reason: wine can be the difference between making or breaking an appetizer. We don't often talk about the olive oil-based food pairing. It could be since most of the time , we just "buy oil" without particular attention to its unique qualities or flavors. Here at Dievole we're changing the way we buy oil and we believe that you can as well, especially if you're acquainted with our collection of unique extra-virgin olive oils all produced in Italy. When you're working with top quality extra-virgin olive oil you'll be able to taste a variety of tastes and flavors, and it's equally crucial to pair it with food items as it is to pick the perfect wine. The extra-virgin olive oil can really enhance the flavor of a dish, making it taste better.
There are around a hundred kinds of EVOO in Italy when you consider the various varieties and cultivars, but we'll focus on a select few monocultivars and blends Dievole creates to help you use them to their best potential use. The primary characteristic we'll examine is the way in which the flavor of these oils differs in the degree of bitterness and spice. Additionally, there are subtleties in flavor (much as the secondary aromas found in wine) which influence the best way to be taken in conjunction. In general the EVOO you decide to pair with should be harmoniously, not in opposition to the food you are eating. It shouldn't be greater than the food. Therefore, a light extra-virgin olive oil is best to light foods while a more powerful one is best paired with food items with more body. It's the general rule applies to wine too. Naturally, there may be intriguing exceptions to the principle, but this is an example to follow!
A fascinating note: just like wine, olive oils change from year to year. In the summer, particularly hot temperatures can result in more concentrated olive oil because the olives form tough, waxy and thick skins that defend themselves against dehydration. The flavor may also differ slightly, even in the case of exactly the same cultivar, and tree!
OLIVE OIL FOOD PAIRING WITH NOCELLARA EVOO
This was the year that we began producing Nocellara which is a kind of olive, perhaps most common to the south-western region of Sicily however, we cultivate throughout the Basilicata region of Italy.
We have added Nocellara into our collection as it's a light oil. On the scale of 10 the intensity of Nocellara would be three or four. It's consistently bitter (but not as much as an example, like Coratina). Coratina) It has the delicate aroma of freshly cut grass and the red tomato leaf. This EVOO can be enjoyed with cooked fish and fresh herbs, boiled lobster pasta, with mushrooms, or other dishes that are light but not so light as to be overpowered by a surprisingly flavorful topping.
PAIRING CORATINA EVOO
Coratina is perhaps the most rich and intense monocultivar is available in the market. Dievole's is one of the best which has been awarded olive oil awards every year. It has a distinct flavor of chicory and almonds that are unabashedly strong. It also has a dense consistency, so it can hold its own against hot and spicy food.
This EVOO is great on anything grilling, as it amplifies the smokiness of both the meat cooked on the grill (like roast chicken or roast lamb) and also of grilling vegetables like radicchio and zucchini. Serve it with the soup of beans and you'll be euphoric by the smell. It's delicious on bruschetta as well as with cheeses that have been seasoned.
PAIRING DOP CHIANTI CLASSICO EVOO
The Chianti Classico region in our area Chianti Classico makes a DOP extra virgin olive oil made of the most sought-after local varieties of olives: frantoio as well as moraiolo. They are blended carefully to create a distinctive oil that exudes the praises of our area. If you are looking for olive oil as a food partner take note it is spicy EVOO that is less spicy than Coratina and yet with an intense scent of walnut, and subtle notes of fresh vegetables.
It's great with traditional Tuscan food items like ribollita pork with porcini mushroom, spinach salad salmon goats cheese, lentil soup or dishes that include artichokes. In summer, drizzle it over a caprese salad or even green salads, tossed together with Chianti Classico wine vinegar.
PAIRING 100% ITALIANO BLEND EVOO
Dievole also offers an 100 percent Italian blend that contains Leccino, Coratina, Peranzana and Ogliarola olives. The evoo is perfectly balanced and makes the perfect light and fruity multi-purpose olive oil, which chefs enjoy especially for its ease to mix. However, light doesn't necessarily mean that it is that it isn't tasty This blend is awash with scents that are reminiscent of thistle, almonds, and freshly cut grass and also fresh green tomatoes (depending on the time of year).
The ideal olive oil food pairings for this blend is chicken salad or oysters gratine, roast lamb as well as asparagus soup, and fresh cheeses.
PAIRING IGP TOSCANO EVOO
IGP Toscano can be another reason to be proud and delight of our region. It is grown in groves that we manage in the gorgeous Maremma region of Tuscany It's an assemblage of Leccino, Moraiolo, Frantoio and Maurino olives. It is different from DOP Chianti Classico, being slightly lighter. We don't make a lot of this wine and if you come across an opportunity to purchase a bottle, do it! IGP Toscano is a particularly excellent match for vegetarian dishes such as barley salad, vegetable bruschette tomatoes, rice and tomatoes beans artichoke risotto fish tartare with salmon goat's cheese, and soft and hard-textured cheeses.
Pair Greek Vassae Olive Oil With Your Favorite Food!
While you'll find olive oil producers across the globe however, there is no country with more extensive ties with the olive plant than Greece and you can expect only the best in every style.
Chemist Dimitrios Mavroeidis is the brain behind Vassae Olive Oil, authentic green gold that is medium to high intensity, made by hand using only the best olives and most efficient methods for quality.
It's difficult to top Vassae in its versatility. Fish white and red meat grilling vegetables and pasta, stews and baked treats -the list goes on. Vassae is all about balance which is the reason why it's one of the most complex food combinations. Visit https://vassae.com/en/ for more information!
Now that you're an Food or EVOO pair expert, look through our collection of recipes that we have selected and spice up your meals with some of the more intriguing ingredients available.
