Why Pack Your Picnic With Extra Virgin Olive Oil Health Benefits
Updated June 8th 2023
Nothing screams summertime quite like a picnic! Whether you prefer an intimate gathering with close friends or a family reunion, including extra virgin olive oil in your meal plans is a great choice.
Contents:
- Why Add Extra Virgin Olive Oil To Your Summer Picnic?
- How To Store Extra Virgin Olive Oil On The Go
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil And The Key Principles Of The Mediterranean Diet
- What should I pack In My Mediterranean Picnic?
- Recipes With The Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil You Can Find!
Why Add Extra Virgin Olive Oil To Your Summer Picnic?
Adding extra virgin olive oil to your picnic basket also offers up some serious health benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked. Packed full of good fats and antioxidants, this cooking staple has long been heralded as ‘liquid gold’ by chefs and nutritionists alike – so why not include its amazing properties at the heart of your next picnic spread? Read on to discover how olive oil can revolutionize your outdoor summer meal plan this season.
When planning your summer picnic, remember that extra virgin olive oil is a healthy and flavorful oil is a versatile addition to any picnic basket. From drizzling it over a fresh salad to using it as a dip for fresh bread, the possibilities are endless. Plus, extra virgin olive oil offers a variety of health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants and healthy fats that can reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart disease. Not to mention, its unique taste can enhance the flavors of any dish. So, make sure to add a bottle of extra virgin olive oil to your summer picnic basket for both its health benefits and tasty versatility.
Summertime is picnicking season! If you’re looking for some ideas to spice up your next outdoor feast, be sure to reach for your bottle of extra virgin olive oil. From salads to desserts, these recipes are sure to impress. So grab your basket and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors!
For lovers of seasonal produce eaten on a picnic rug in the middle of the countryside or beach, 2022 is the year to make your picnic basket the envy of the rest! And what better way to fill your basket with sunshine than incorporating the dietary principles of The Mediterranean in your al fresco feast?
How To Store Extra Virgin Olive Oil On The Go
Summer picnics are the perfect way to enjoy your bottle of extra virgin olive oil in the great outdoors. However, when it comes to bringing along your favorite extra virgin olive oil, storing it on the go can be a challenge. The first step is to choose a sturdy container that won’t leak or break during transport. Opt for a dark, opaque bottle that will protect the oil from sunlight and preserve its flavor. When packing the bottle, make sure to keep it upright and away from heat sources like hot car interiors. If you’re worried about spills, wrap the bottle in a towel or place it in a sealable bag. With these simple tips, you can safely bring your beloved olive oil on any summer adventure!
We know that a bottle of Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a thing of beauty. We designed it that way! But, we understand you may not want to take the whole bottle with you in your picnic basket. But fear not, decanting a smaller amount to take with you for the day shouldn’t affect the flavour. According to TheKitchin pouring smaller amounts of olive oil in a dark-colored bottle to use as you need it is absolutely fine.
Just avoid storing oil in plastic containers because chemicals from the plastic can seep into the oil. Also avoid reactive metal containers, like iron or copper, which can cause a reaction with the oil, making it unsafe.
A remember, extra virgin olive oil makes the healthiest of salad dressings for your summer salad.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil And The Key Principles Of The Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is one of the most popular diets across the world and actually very simple to follow at its most basic level. A Mediterranean diet is known for its emphasis on vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals, grains, fish and unsaturated fats such as extra virgin olive oil. It also usually includes a low intake of meat and dairy foods. All you really need to remember as an excellent rule of thumb is to eat less red meat and fewer sweets, introducing more wholegrains, legumes, fruit, nuts, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and seafood into your diet instead. That’s it!
What should I pack In My Mediterranean Picnic?
1/ The Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil You Can Find!
No big surprise there but top of our shopping list has to be an ultra-premium quality extra virgin olive oil that can be dipped, drizzled and mixed in to just about everything else that comes out of your picnic basket!
Pick up your bottle of our latest, freshest, polyphenol packed Morocco Gold here.
2/ Traditional Moroccan Carrot Salad
A firm favourite for many a Moroccan lunch, this delicious carrot salad is easy to make in advance and will travel well.
Ingredients
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 pound carrots, peeled
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- Pinch of cayenne (optional)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- ⅛ teaspoon granulated sugar
- Salt
- Morocco Gold Extra-virgin olive oil
- Chopped parsley, for garnishing.
Method
- Bring a large pot or Dutch oven filled with water to boil. Add the garlic and carrots; cook the carrots until barely tender. Drain the carrot, discarding the garlic. Dice or slice the carrots.
- Combine the spices with the lemon juice, sugar, and salt, and pour over the carrots. Allow the carrots to chill in the refrigerate until serving.
- Sprinkle with Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil and chopped parsley just before serving.
Recipe adapted from Paula Wolfert; Content and photo courtesy of Oldways.
3/ A Black Olive Tapenade
We really do love our olives at Morocco Gold and therefore it’s not surprising that we think no picnic would be complete without a mouth-watering black olive tapenade. It can be made in advance and is a pretty easy one to throw together too, especially if you have a decent food processor in the cupboard.
Ingredients
- 290g jar of pitted kalamata black olives (160g drained weight)
- 1 tbsp capers
- 2 anchovy fillets
- 50ml Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- sprig fresh thyme, leaves only (optional)
Method
- Blitz all the ingredients except the thyme in a small food processor. Season with black pepper then transfer to a jar or serving dish and scatter over the thyme leaves if using. Keeps in the fridge for 3 days.
A Mediterranean Picnic Classic: Spanish Potato Omlette or Tortilla
Now this really is a firm favourite in many a slow relaxing summer picnic. A Spanish Tortilla is robust enough to travel well and feed the hungriest of appetites. There are so many clever additions to give this dish your own finishing touch but here is a lovely simple recipe to get you hooked!
Ingredients
- 500g new potatoes
- 1 onion, preferably white
- 150ml Morocco Gold extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 6 eggs
Method
- Scrape the new potatoes or leave the skins on, if you prefer. Cut them into thick slices. Chop the onion.
- Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a large frying pan, add the potatoes and onion and stew gently, partially covered, for 30 mins, stirring occasionally until the potatoes are softened. Strain the potatoes and onion through a colander into a large bowl (set the strained oil aside).
- Beat the eggs separately, then stir into the potatoes with the parsley and plenty of salt and pepper. Heat a little of the strained oil in a smaller pan.
- Tip everything into the pan and cook on a moderate heat, using a spatula to shape the omelette into a cushion.
- When almost set, invert on a plate and slide back into the pan and cook a few more minutes.
- Invert twice more, cooking the omelette briefly each time and pressing the edges to keep the cushion shape. Slide on to a plate and cool for 10 mins before serving.
When you are back in the kitchen and want to be a little more adventurous with your Mediterranean cooking, look no further than our very own website, which is packed with recipe ideas and tips to dial up the Mediterranean flavour at home!
