Best Foods To Pair With Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Double Up On Flavour and Health With These Winning Olive Oil Food Pairings

Extra virgin olive oil is more than just a kitchen staple—it’s a versatile ingredient that can elevate the flavours of countless dishes while offering impressive health benefits. From its silky richness to its distinctive, peppery notes, olive oil brings something special to the table. Whether you’re a foodie looking to experiment with flavours, a health-conscious eater, or a seasoned home cook, this guide will introduce you to the best olive oil pairings that complement any culinary creation.

Why Olive Oil Deserves a Place on Your Plate

Before we get into the food pairings, let’s talk about why olive oil—especially high-quality extra virgin olive oil—is a pantry essential.

Health Benefits of Olive Oil

Packed with antioxidants, healthy monounsaturated fats, and anti-inflammatory properties, olive oil offers a slew of health benefits. Using olive oil in your diet has been linked to:

• Improved heart health
• Lowered risk of chronic diseases
• Enhanced cognitive function
• Better skin and hair health

But beyond the science, what makes olive oil truly fantastic is its ability to enhance flavours without overpowering them. Its versatility can complement everything from sweet desserts to savoury dishes.

Choosing the Best Olive Oil

To fully enjoy olive oil pairings, always use high-quality oils, particularly extra virgin olive oil. This type is unrefined, meaning it retains more nutrients and has a robust, fruitier flavour profile perfect for pairing.

Perfect Food Pairings with Olive Oil

From appetizers to desserts, olive oil pairs brilliantly with a wide variety of foods. Here’s how to make the most of this golden liquid:

1. Olive Oil and Fresh Bread

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as dipping crusty fresh bread into a pool of extra virgin olive oil. Make it even better by adding:

• A sprinkle of sea salt
• A dash of balsamic vinegar
• Crushed garlic or herbs like rosemary and thyme

This pairing is a timeless starter for any meal or a quick snack.

2. Olive Oil Drizzled Over Roasted Vegetables

Vegetables and olive oil are a match made in heaven. Toss your favourite veggies—like carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini—with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper before roasting. The result? Tender vegetables with caramelized edges and a flavour boost.

Pro tip: Pair earthy vegetables like sweet potatoes with a robust olive oil for extra depth.

3. Elevating Pasta and Pizza

For Italian cooking enthusiasts, olive oil is indispensable.

• Pasta: Finish off your favourite pasta dish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for a luxurious touch. It works especially well with lighter sauces like aglio e olio (garlic and oil) or marinara.
• Pizza: Forget greasy toppings—opt for a light drizzle of olive oil over your baked pizza to bring out the flavours of the crust and toppings.

Add fresh basil or chili flakes for an extra kick!

4. Pairing Olive Oil with Seafood

The subtle fruitiness of olive oil pairs exquisitely with seafood dishes:

• Use it as a marinade for salmon or shrimp, combining olive oil with lemon juice, garlic, and herbs.
• Drizzle olive oil over freshly grilled fish for added moisture and flavour.

Olive oil enhances the seafood’s natural sweetness, making each bite unforgettable.

5. Cheese and Olive Oil

Brighten up your cheese platters by drizzling olive oil over soft cheeses like mozzarella or burrata. Pair these with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, or fresh basil for a classic Mediterranean vibe.

For a bold twist, try it with feta cheese. A touch of olive oil with oregano or chili flakes transforms feta into an addictive spread.

6. Grains and Olive Oil

Bring your grains to life:

• Mix olive oil into quinoa or farro with chopped herbs, lemon zest, and crushed nuts for a refreshing salad.
• Add a quick drizzle to rice pilaf or couscous before serving for a silky texture and lighter finish.

This pairing can make even the simplest grains feel gourmet.

7. Salads with Olive Oil

Olive oil is the foundation of countless salad dressings. Combine it with vinegar, mustard, honey, or even fresh fruit juices like pomegranate for endless dressing possibilities. It also binds the salad’s ingredients together, ensuring every bite is balanced and tasty.

Pro tip: Use a mild extra virgin olive oil for leafy salads and a stronger-flavoured oil for heartier salads with grains or roasted veggies.

8. Desserts with Olive Oil

Yes, olive oil belongs in desserts too! Its velvety texture and fruity notes amplify sweetness in unexpected ways:

• Drizzle it over vanilla gelato and finish with a pinch of sea salt.
• Swirl it into cake batters for a moist and subtly fruity sponge.
• Try olive oil chocolate truffles—a delightful harmony of richness and smoothness.

9. Olive Oil and Fresh Fruit

Pairing olive oil with fruit may sound unconventional, but it works beautifully:

• Drizzle it over sliced peaches or nectarines with fresh mint.
• Combine olive oil with honey or balsamic glaze and pour it over a fruit salad.

Olive oil enhances the fruit’s natural sweetness while adding complexity to the flavour profile.

How to Get the Most Flavour Out of Olive Oil Pairings

• Serve it fresh: Heat can degrade olive oil’s flavour and nutrients, so use it raw or add it to hot dishes just before serving.
• Experiment with varieties: Different oils offer unique flavours—some are mild and grassy, while others are bold and peppery. Sample a few to discover what works best for your favourite dishes.
• Store it correctly: Keep olive oil in a cool, dark place to preserve its freshness and quality.

Taste the Magic of Olive Oil Pairings

Olive oil isn’t just a condiment—it’s the key to unlocking rich and complex flavours in your meals. With health benefits, versatility, and an undeniable ability to elevate the simplest of dishes, olive oil is a true culinary gem.

Next time you’re preparing a meal, think about how a touch of olive oil could transform it. And if you’re ready to explore the world of olive oil further, why not look for locally produced or artisanal extra virgin olive oils? Your tastebuds will thank you.

We loved a selection of Olive Oil food pairings pulled together by TastingTable, some of which we have shared below:

Ice cream

If you’re an experimental eater with an open mind who wants to try a food combo that will surprise you, try drizzling a high-quality EVOO over your ice cream.

Although we don’t usually associate olive oil with sweet treats like ice cream, it can make your already decadent frozen dish even richer. Try it over dark chocolate, coffee, or vanilla ice cream to start, and venture out from there. The surprisingly delicious pairing of olive oil and ice cream is great because it creates the perfect balance of sweet and savoury. High-quality olive oil should have a subtle citrus and floral flavour that, together with its smooth and fatty mouthfeel, can only elevate a dish, even dessert.

Coffee

Olive oil and hot beverages may seem like quite the stretch, but in reality, adding a fat to coffee isn’t all that far out of left field. Adding some form of fat to coffee is a long-standing practice all around the world, especially in the Himalayas. It’s not uncommon to find coffee with ghee in such areas, which is thought to give coffee an extra health boost. On a more relatable level, adding cream to coffee is another way to balance the natural acidity of coffee with fat. Within that context, olive oil blended with coffee deserves its hype and isn’t as unusual as it might sound.

Adding olive oil creates a creamy richness that black coffee itself tends to lack. Like coffee, olive oil can carry unique and subtle earthy and floral notes, so it’s no wonder the two complement each other so beautifully. Simply stir or blend 1 teaspoon (or less for the wary) of EVOO into your morning cup of joe, and let your taste buds do the talking.

Chocolate

Whether it’s chocolate based deserts or a hot chocolate drink, quality chocolate pairs beautifully with olive oil. Next time you make a rich and creamy chocolate mousse, whatever the recipe, try topping it with more than just chocolate flakes and orange peel. Extra-virgin olive oil can make mousse even more incredibly decadent and rich.

Cookies And Cake

Just like in cake, olive oil can be used to add a savory dimension to cookies while making them dense and delicious. Most cookie recipes call for some form of fat, usually butter or vegetable oil, but by using olive oil you add subtle earthy and floral flavours to the mix. This gives you an opportunity to layer in the flavour instead of adding a rather thin and tasteless oil out of necessity.

Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt, like olive oil, can be incorporated into both sweet and savory dishes. You might think of Greek yogurt as that tart, thick yogurt used in smoothies, made into ice cream, or enjoyed for breakfast with fruit and granola. But it’s special in the sense that it can be served alongside roasted vegetables, proteins, nuts, fruits, grains, and any other category of food you can fathom. A simple way to serve Greek yogurt with olive oil is on fresh toast.

Smear sourdough bread with Greek yogurt like you would with cream cheese. Drizzle with both olive oil and honey and garnish with cracked black pepper or hot pepper flakes. The tartness of the yogurt, mellowed by the sweet honey and floral oil, will deliver an unmatched mouthfeel. The cracked black pepper or hot pepper flakes add just enough heat and texture to the mix, which makes for a refreshing and hearty breakfast or afternoon snack.

Mashed potatoes

Yes, peanut butter goes with jelly, and butter goes on toast. But let’s think outside the box for a moment when considering which fats to use while cooking. Butter, lard, mayonnaise, coconut oil, bacon grease, oil, and extra-virgin olive oil all carry incredibly different flavours and act differently when heated or mixed with other ingredients. When it comes to mashed potatoes, almost any of the above fats would do, but people tend to stick with the old reliable: butter.

Switch things up and use extra-virgin olive oil in your mashed potatoes instead, along with an extra pinch of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Adding EVOO makes the absolute best vegan mashed potatoes on the planet, so it’s worth consideration next time you’re getting creative with the side dish. The overall texture remains the same, while the flavour differs slightly and skews fresher and more organic. Once it’s all mashed up, be sure to garnish with an extra drizzle of oil to help lock in moisture and add to the aesthetic.

Taste the Magic of Olive Oil Pairings

Olive oil isn’t just a condiment—it’s the key to unlocking rich and complex flavours in your meals. With health benefits, versatility, and an undeniable ability to elevate the simplest of dishes, olive oil is a true culinary gem.

Next time you’re preparing a meal, think about how a touch of olive oil could transform it. And if you’re ready to explore the world of olive oil further, why not look for locally produced or artisanal extra virgin olive oils? Your tastebuds will thank you.