Cooking with Extra Virgin Olive Oil for the Holidays

BY FRANCESCA VAN SOEST, DECEMBER 21st, 2020

With all the craziness of 2020 time has had an odd way of both speeding up and dragging on, and so it seems both inviting and unbelievable that the holidays are upon us. Waking up to cool, crisp mornings, fresh glittery snow and frosted windowpanes, it’s not hard to think about all the cozy meals that you have been saving up for exactly this time. Who else is ready for roasted veggies, comforting soups, steaming mugs of cider and all the crockpot recipes your heart desires?  

Winter is by far one of our favorite seasons at Cobram Estate and it’s not just because the produce is truly magical, it is because it the rest period after harvest is done. It is the time to relax and celebrate all the fruits of our labor while we wait for our fresh oil to settle. By December 1st, we are normally bottle our first batches of fresh oil and then we then get to use this oil to create some of our absolute favorite seasonal and holiday ready dishes.  

Now, we know that it may be hard to believe, but there are still folks out there who do not know that not only is it safe to cook with fresh extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and that you can even fry with it! That’s right, head over to our blog post “Shattering the Myth… Can you Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil?” to learn about how you can, and should, be using EVOO as your staple everyday cooking oil. Now with that in mind, it is time to talk about how to use our oils for all your holiday baking and cooking! 

One of the best things about Cobram Estate’s EVOO lines is that there is an oil for everything, so you truly can use EVOO for all your cooking needs. With all the new fresh oils from the 2020 harvest currently being bottled, the oils do not get fresher than this! And this freshness is key, because the fresher the oil, the better it is for you, and the better the flavor. At Cobram Estate, we are obsessed with fresh. Here are some of our favorite ways to add extra EVOO to your holiday cooking and baking! 

• Substitute our 100% California Mild for all your baking needs! Our Mild EVOO is perfect because of its lighter flavor profile, it won’t take over your delicate cookie or cake recipes. Baking with EVOO adds a unique moistness to your cakes and depth of flavor to help give your baking an extra leg up on the competition. Here is a conversion chart to help you substitute our Mild EVOO in for butter: 

• Roasted brussels sprouts with 100% California Classic and fresh ground salt and pepper and finished with a fresh squeeze of lemon juice. 
• Grilled meats, including baked turkey, using our 100% California Robust EVOO. This oil packs a flavor punch and can stand up to the big bold flavors of most meaty delights. Try it on a beef roast or tri-tip and drizzle a little extra on top after slicing for an extra kick.  
• Fresh hearty salads with pecans and raisins and a maple balsamic vinaigrette made with our Australian Select. Our Australian 2020 oil is super fruity and pairs well with pretty much any salad, and it is mild enough that you can even use it in most baking recipes as a butter replacement! 
• Butternut squash soup! It doesn’t get more cozy than that! Simply chop some squash, apples and onions, cover it all in our California Select and roast it until tender. Then let them cool a bit and pop everything into a blender with some chicken stock and puree until your desired consistency is met! Make sure you fry up some sage leaves in EVOO too and use them as a crispy garnish. 

There are countless applications for olive oil in the kitchen, these are just a few that we have been cooking up recently! If you find yourslef in need of a larger format for your EVOO, make sure to check out our tins! The oil we use to fill the tins is very similar to the Classic profile, so make sure to scoop one up if you plan of doing a ton of cooking. We hope that you and your families have wonderful and safe holiday season and we can’t wait to see what you all cook up with your Cobram Estate. Make sure to tag us in your stories or posts @cobramestateusa on Facebook and Instagram. 

Happy Holidays from your friendly EVOO  family in Woodland!