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News Desk
The solution to every illness according to the Ancient Greeks, olive oil is now a favourite amongst the "take-away" culture obsessed Londoners.
According to the Office of National Statistics, Londoners are putting olive oil at the tope of their shopping list. In fact sales have risen steadily over the last 19 years and the UK now consumes 28 million litres of this wonder oil each year, accounting for 2.9% of the world’s consumption.
The findings come as no real surprise though as more reports confirm that the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world. With an ever increasing number of Brits looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle and eat a balanced diet it’s no wonder olive oil is the number one fat of choice; after all, fat is an essential part of a balanced diet and the key ingredient used daily in the Mediterranean diet is...olive oil.
Olive oil is packed with health protecting monounsaturated fats* and naturally has less calories than saturated fats**. If olive oil still sounds like an exotic mystery to you, these simple changes to the diet can make the world of difference to your taste buds and family’s health:-
• Add olive oil to balsamic vinegar or lemon juice for a basic vinaigrette dressing and drizzle over salad when ready to eat.
• If you go to a sandwich bar for your lunch, ask them to drizzle olive oil over your bread rather than the traditional spread.
• Barbecues are brought to life when the food is marinated beforehand and the key ingredient for a delicious marinade is olive oil
• Lightly drizzle olive oil over grilled vegetables whilst cooking (this is a quick alternative to roasting). Alternatively, cool the vegetables down, add any seasoning or herbs to taste and use as a separate salad dish
• Dipping fresh, crispy bread into olive oil is becoming more popular in restaurants but why not do this at home too and replace your usual spread with olive oil? Crushed peppercorns and sea salt really enhance the taste too.
With summer on the way, this is the perfect time to get your family used to the delicious taste, the wonderful versatility and health giving properties of olive oil.
*Monounsaturated fat is a fatty acid, high in antioxidants
** Saturated fat is a hard fat usually found in animal products such as red meat, butter, and full-fat cheese or, ‘trans-fats (which are solidified by the hydrogenation process and is found in many processed foods)
OLIVE OIL
WHO’D HAVE GUESSED?
Olive oil is an essential cooking ingredient these days..as we are making efforts to become or stay healthy, it’s the number one choice of oil for many people
No surprise really as this versatile oil is ideal for salads, dressing and marinades, as well as for multi-cooking use . Whilst we know about the health aspects of olive oil, facts below are designed to help you get the most out of your bottle...(stunningly designed tin)
What is the best way to store olive oil? Olive oil should be stored in a cool place, at 15-20ºC, and out of direct sunlight. Each oil should be consumed within a few months of purchase, as when young, it is at its most flavoursome and nutritional. Most olive oils are sold in glass bottles, tins or plastic bottles. These types of containers are used because they help to keep the oil in its best condition.
What is the best olive oil variety for salads, dips and dressings? The most popular for salads, dips and dressings is Extra Virgin olive oil, owing to its wide variety of flavours. This oil is perfect for dipping bread, and as an accompaniment or dressing for hot or cold food where you want the flavour of the oil to come out in the food.
What are Infused olive oils? These are olive oils flavoured with herbs or spices such as basil or truffles. They are perfect for drizzling over salads or hot plates. Infused oils can easily be prepared at home, using Extra Virgin olive oil as the base oil and adding your (cleaned and dried) favourite flavour such as chillies, basil, coriander or even orange peel.
Which are the best olive oils for general cooking? All types of olive oil can be used in cooking, and enhance the flavours of a wide variety of ingredients. Olive oil is ideal for frying, dressings, pastas, rice dishes, grilling meat or fish, etc.
Can olive oil be used to make desserts, cakes or breads? Yes. The Mediterranean Diet uses olive oil for sweet and savoury dishes. Olive oil is an indispensable ingredient for making a variety of breads, and combines perfectly with sweet ingredients such as chocolate when baking chocolate brownies
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