Stock Up Now For A Month Full Of Spring Health And Extra Virgin Olive Oil
The month of March is approaching, where winter meets spring and seasonal produce begins to shift. Here’s how to use your extra virgin olive oil to best use with some satisfying and healthy recipes.
A quality extra virgin olive oil like Morocco Gold can add flavor, texture, and health benefits to a huge range of dishes. Whether you’re looking for light salads or hearty mains, there’s something here for every palate.
Garlic Butter Shrimp And Asparagus With Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Morocco Gold extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 bunches asparagus (about 1 1/2 lb. total), tough ends trimmed
- Kosher salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 1/2 lb. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add asparagus; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until asparagus are tender but still crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
- In same skillet over medium heat, cook butter, garlic, onion powder, red pepper, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil until butter is melted. Add shrimp; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until shrimp are pink and cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Remove from heat and stir in asparagus. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and parsley and toss to combine.
Sausage, Peppers, Onions And Potato Bake With Olive Oil
This plate of joy from AllRecipies.com is bound to put a smile on their faces this March.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Morocco Gold extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 pounds Italian sausage links, cut into 2-inch pieces
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced
- 2 large green bell peppers, seeded and cut into wedges
- 2 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into wedges
- 3 large onions, cut into wedges
- ½ cup white wine
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir the sausage until browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer cooked sausage to a large baking dish.
- Pour 1/4 cup of olive oil into the skillet, and cook potatoes, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes.
- Place the potatoes into the baking dish, leaving some oil in the skillet.
- Cook and stir green and red peppers and onions in the hot skillet until they are beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Add the vegetables to the baking dish. Pour wine and chicken stock over the vegetables and sausage, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Gently stir sausage, potatoes, and vegetables together.
- Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.
What Are The Key Foods That Work Well With Extra Virgin Olive Oil In March?
March heralds the vibrancy of spring, bringing a plethora of seasonal produce that pairs beautifully with the rich, fruity notes of extra virgin olive oil. This time of year, the earth yields tender artichokes, whose leaves and hearts, when drizzled with olive oil, become simply irresistible.
Fresh asparagus stands tall, awaiting a light sauté with a splash of olive oil that accentuates its verdant, grassy flavor. Leafy greens like spinach and kale shake off the winter chill, yearning for a dressing of warm olive oil to unlock their full, nourishing potential. And then there are the new potatoes, their inviting skins crisping perfectly when roasted with a generous pour of olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt. Incorporating these foods into your March culinary explorations not only brightens up the table with seasonal variety but also infuses dishes with the heart-healthy benefits of extra virgin olive oil.
One delicious way to incorporate these ingredients is by making a simple spring vegetable stir-fry with extra virgin olive oil as the base. Sauté some diced new potatoes until they are crispy and golden, then add in chopped artichokes and asparagus, along with a handful of leafy greens like spinach or kale.
We’ve listed Garlic Butter Shrimp And Asparagus & Sausage, Peppers, Onions And Potatoe Bake. For more recipe inspiration on cooking with extra virgin olive oil all year round see Morocco Gold’s fantastic recipe library here.
