Fresh Ideas For Summer Grilling With Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fire up the barbecue with two simple recipes using extra virgin olive oil. Lemon and herb chicken skewers, grilled mackerel with garlic and lemon, plus practical grilling tips for summer cooking.
Purchase Evoo
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Amount
4
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Time
1 hour 15 minutes
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Course
Main Dishes
Use The Best Olive Oil To Bring Out The Flavour In Your Al Fresco Cooking
Extra virgin olive oil works well in marinades, dressings and as a finishing oil for grilled food. These two recipes combine fresh summer ingredients with simple cooking techniques that are suitable for the barbecue or a griddle pan.
The first recipe pairs lemon and herb chicken skewers with crisp potatoes and a feta dressing. The second is a quick grilled mackerel dish with garlic, lemon and extra virgin olive oil.
Ingredients
Total
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- ½ bulb garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp clear honey
- 1 tbsp chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp flaky sea salt
- 1 tbsp Morocco Gold Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp black peppercorns, crushed
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 3 large chicken breasts, cubed
FOR THE POTATOES
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 Maris Piper potatoes, skin on and sliced into 2cm/¾in rounds
- 1 tbsp salt, for the cooking water, plus extra to season
- 1 lemon, juice only
- 100ml/3½fl oz chicken stock
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp fine semolina (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 100g/3½oz feta, broken into pieces
- 1 lemon, juice only
- pinch flaky salt
- pinch cracked black pepper
- about 100ml/3½fl oz Morocco Gold Extra virgin olive oil
TO SERVE
- large handful rocket leaves
- 50g/1¾oz feta, crumbled (optional)
- pinch chilli flakes
- 2 tbsp runny honey
Instructions
Total
- To make the lemon and herb chicken, mix the lemon juice and zest, garlic, honey, chilli, sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, crushed peppercorns, rosemary and thyme together in a bowl. Add the chicken chunks and stir to allow the mixture to coat the chicken. Cover and leave to marinate for 1 hour.
- If you are cooking the chicken on the barbecue, heat the barbecue to have it ready in time.
- To make the potatoes, preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
- Spoon the vegetable oil into a baking tray large enough to fit the potato slices in a single layer and put this in the oven to get hot.
- Place the potatoes in a pan and just cover with water. Add the salt and place over a high heat. Bring to the boil and cook for 15 minutes, or until tender.
- Drain the potatoes in a colander, then suspend the colander in the potato pan and cover with a clean tea towel for about 10 minutes, or until the potatoes have steamed off and dried out a bit. Then, give the potatoes a toss in the colander so that they break down a little on the sides.
- Remove the hot baking tray from the oven and tip in the tatties. Give them a stir to coat them in the oil, then roast for 30 minutes, until part-cooked.
- In that time, mix the lemon juice, chicken stock, oregano, semolina and garlic in a small bowl.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven and turn the heat up to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
- Pour the lemony liquid over the potatoes and give them a mix, then return them to the oven for a further 30 minutes, or until crisp and golden-brown. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper.
- To make the feta dressing, put the feta, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a mini-processor if you have one. Otherwise, put them in a small bowl and use a whisk. Blend or whisk until almost smooth. Trickle in the olive oil, mixing continuously, until you have a creamy, thick dressing that's ready for anything! You may not need all the oil.
- To finish the chicken, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers and cook either on a barbecue or in a hot griddle pan. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until golden-brown and cooked through, brushing with honey occasionally
- To serve, divide the rocket among four serving plates, add the feta dressing, potatoes and skewers. Finish with a pinch of chilli flakes, crumbled feta (if using) and a drizzle of honey. Serve.
Amount
Time
Crispy Grilled Mackerel With Garlic & Lemon
This delightful seasonal fish dish from FamilyFriendsFood.com is bursting with healthy fats and goodness.
Ingredients
Total
- 8 mackerel fillets
- Juice of a lemon
- 4 tablespoon Morocco Gold Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed
- Salt and pepper
- Chopped parsley and lemon wedges to serve (optional)
Instructions
Total
- Chop parsley and lemon wedges to serve (optional)
- Rinse the mackerel fillets and pat dry. Remove any stray bones with tweezers, and place the fillets in a large shallow dish.
- Whisk together the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil and crushed garlic with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the fish and turn the mackerel fillets to coat. Cover the dish and leave to marinate for 15-20 minutes.
- Heat a ridged griddle pan over a medium-high heat. Cook the fish fillets in batches for 2-3 minutes on each side. Cook the skin-side first, and take care when turning to ensure that the skin is released from the pan and does not stick.
- Transfer the fish to a serving dish. You may want to keep the grilled mackerel warm in a low oven while you cook the remaining fillets.
Purchase Morocco Gold Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Healthy & Tasty
From The Larder
Tips for Grilling With Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil works well in marinades, dressings and for lightly brushing meat, fish and vegetables before grilling. Combine it with lemon juice, garlic, herbs or spices and allow the ingredients time to marinate before cooking.
When cooking over an open flame, avoid using more oil than necessary. Excess oil can drip onto the heat and cause flare-ups. Keep the food moving where needed and use a cooler part of the barbecue if it begins to colour too quickly.
For the best flavour, keep a little extra virgin olive oil aside and add it to dressings or drizzle it over the finished dish before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cook the chicken skewers on a gas barbecue?
Yes. Heat the barbecue before cooking and place the skewers over a medium-high heat. Turn them regularly and cook until the chicken is golden on the outside and completely cooked through.
Can I prepare the chicken in advance?
The chicken can be placed in the marinade several hours before cooking and kept covered in the refrigerator. Remove it shortly before grilling so it is not going onto the barbecue completely chilled.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used in place of chicken breasts. Cut them into evenly sized pieces and allow a little extra cooking time if needed.
Is extra virgin olive oil suitable for grilling?
Extra virgin olive oil can be used in marinades, dressings and for brushing food before or during grilling. Avoid pouring large quantities directly over open flames, as dripping oil may cause flare-ups.
Can the grilled mackerel be cooked without a barbecue?
Yes. The mackerel can be cooked in a hot griddle pan, under a grill or in a frying pan. Cook the skin side first and turn the fillets carefully to prevent them from breaking.
How do I know when the mackerel is cooked?
The flesh should be opaque and should separate easily when gently tested with a fork. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fillets, but they usually only need a few minutes on each side.
What can I serve with the grilled chicken skewers?
The skewers work well with the lemon potatoes and feta dressing included in the recipe. They can also be served with salad, grilled vegetables, flatbreads or rice.
Related Reading
If you enjoyed these summer grilling recipes, these articles cover more ways to cook with and get the most from extra virgin olive oil.
- How to Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Practical ideas for using extra virgin olive oil in everyday cooking.
- What Is New Harvest Olive Oil? – Learn why freshly harvested olive oil is prized for its flavour, aroma and nutritional quality.
- When Is Olive Oil Harvest Season? – Find out when olives are harvested and how timing influences the finished oil.
- The Difference Between New Harvest and Early Harvest Olive Oil – Understand how harvest timing affects flavour and polyphenol content.
- How Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is Tested – Learn how extra virgin olive oil is assessed for quality and authenticity.
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