You may notice that olive oil features in many of my recipes. I use it for baking, roasting, bread making, stir-frying, in dressings and just sprinkled over my salads with some balsamic vinegar. There are a few of reason for this.
- Taste, I love the peppery flavour of a good olive oil. One of the best I have come across for flavour and for everyday use is PAMS extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). I get it from Pak n Save. Great flavour, great value.
- High smoking point. A good quality EVOO can get very hot (approximately 210°C) before it starts to burn and create harmful chemicals. This is due to its antioxidant and monounsaturated fat content.
- Health benefits. Olive oil is an unsaturated fat, and mainly monounsaturated fat.
We need fat in our diet and unsaturated is the best for our heart. Some studies show olive oil helps lower LDL cholesterol levels. High LDL cholesterol has been linked the heart disease and strokes so replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats is good for our hearts.
How can you tell if a fat/oil is saturated or not? Well, easy. If it’s solid at room temperature its saturated, if its liquid its unsaturated. Go for unsaturated fats where possible. Your heart will thank you for it.
Here is a super simple but unbelievably delicious recipe. A perfect side dish in winter or summer and can be eaten hot or cold.