How to use your best extra virgin olive oil in your healthy diet plan.
Updated March 7th 2024
Summary
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil is an excellent choice of base for your salad dressing as it adds flavour and depth to your dish.
- Adding a quality extra virgin olive oil to your salad provides numerous health benefits.
- Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil offers the pepperiness’ of a fine extra virgin olive oil and a clean, well-balanced finish which works well in salad dressing.
Contents
- The Multiple Benefits Of Using Extra Virgin Olive Oil In Your Salads
- The Key Elements Of A Perfect Olive Oil Based Salad Dressing
- How To Give Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing More texture
- Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil Adds a Unique Flavour To Your Salad
- Discover The Health Benefits Of Morocco Gold
The Multiple Benefits Of Using Extra Virgin Olive Oil In Your Salads
If you want a simple and tasty way to dress your salads and enjoy all the benefits of great olive oil tastes, extra virgin olive oil is a choice you can feel confident about. If you’re always looking for easy and nutritious ways to craft delicious meals, you will appreciate extra virgin olive oil not just for its flavour but also for the way it could support your health goals.
Extra virgin olive oil is more than just a tasty addition to your salads, it’s also packed with health benefits. Studies have shown that consuming extra virgin olive oil may lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, reduce inflammation in the body, and even improve brain function.
Extra virgin olive oil is the best olive oil to use in salads because it supports a heart healthy diet. Extra virgin olive oil is made from pure, cold-pressed olives. It is the highest quality olive oil and has the most antioxidants, which are linked to heart health. Because extra virgin olive oil is unrefined, it also contains more vitamins and minerals than other types of olive oil.
In addition, extra virgin olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fats, which are considered to be heart healthy fats. The American Heart Association recommends replacing saturated and trans fats with monounsaturated fats as part of a heart healthy diet. Therefore, using extra virgin olive oil in salads is a good way to support a heart healthy diet. Additionally, extra virgin olive oil can help with a diet for weight loss because it makes you feel full and satisfied after eating. This is due to the fact that extra virgin olive oil slows down the absorption of food in the stomach. Therefore, including extra virgin olive oil in your salads is a good way to support a heart healthy diet and a diet to lose weight.
But how can you combine a diet for heart health and still reward our taste buds with a salad bursting with flavour and full of colour?
The Key Elements Of A Perfect Olive Oil Based Salad Dressing
A salad is not just an accompaniment; it can be the meal itself. Watch out though – some salads can be calorie heavy and carry a high-fat content – if your salad is laced with ‘extras’ such as creamy dressing, croutons, blue cheese or bacon then it will be less healthy than you think!
“But your salad doesn’t have to be dull to be healthy,” says AXA PPP physiologist, Raj Kundhi, “if you choose produce that is in season and mix tastes, colour and textures then it isn’t too difficult to create a filling salad that’s nutritious and flavoursome too”.
Here are some tips from Raj on ways to zing up your salads:
Think about the base
The classic combo of lettuce, cucumber and tomato doesn’t always have to be the base of a salad. Roasted or steamed vegetables can bring an interesting and tasty dimension full of texture. Try roasted peppers – they’ll give plenty of sweetness and contain antioxidants which are good for your skin. Immunity boosting roasted squash is so versatile and full of vitamin C and magnesium. Give beetroot or onions a try – diversity is key!
Wholegrains, along with beans and pulses are good for your heart and can fill you up too. Try quinoa – it’s low in fat, a good source of protein and gluten free. Chickpeas lend a nutty flavour if roasted with spices – they’re fibre rich which can help regulate your blood sugar too.
Raw vegetables, grated into your salad are vibrantly coloured and can add texture. Try adding aniseed tasting fennel – it’s rich in iron. Cabbage, celeriac and carrots are good antioxidants and will add depth to your salad.
How To Give Your Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing More texture
To give your salad that extra crunch, nuts and seeds are the foods to add. They contain essential fats to help manage cholesterol and give a boost of protein too. Nuts and seeds are calorie high but a spoonful (approximately 30g) sprinkled on your salad can help promote a healthy heart. For that lovely crunch try adding a few walnuts – they are rich in omega-3
Partnered with chicken and avocado, sunflower seeds are fabulous – they are also high in omega-6 fats.
For healthy bones, toasted almonds do the trick giving an extra depth of flavour along the way. If you feel like an Asian experience, try sesame seeds with a dash of reduced salt soy sauce.
Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil Adds a Unique Flavour To Your Salad
Morocco Gold extra virgin olive oil is pressed from the prized Picholine Marocaine, the only type of olive used to create Morocco Gold.
High in polyphenols, these olives give Morocco Gold it’s distinctive green fruitiness, hints of sweet almonds, fresh turf and hint of herbs.
It has the distinctive ‘pepperiness’ of a fine extra virgin olive oil giving Morocco Gold a clean, well-balanced finish.
Seasoning not only adds flavour but can be good for you too. Ditch the salt and try other seasonings. For that extra flavour-kick garlic and chilli are just the ticket. If its zing you’re after then try a squeeze of citrus – it’s full of vitamin C. Pesto or hummus are healthier substitutes for creamy dressings. Herbs, whether in a dressing or just sprinkled on, are tasty and healthy too.
Make a meal of it
A salad isn’t just an accompaniment it can be the main event. Top it with protein like some grilled meat, or fish and it immediately becomes a main meal. Just swap for tofu or tempeh as a veggie option.
Grilled skinless chicken or lean beef is always a favourite. Try salmon or mackerel for extra omega 3.
Cooked lentils are delicious and full of protein. Add cheese or hardboiled eggs – these are both healthy – but don’t have too much!
Mix it up
The cornerstone of eating a balanced diet is variety. Try the palette of flavours from sweet to salty, bitter to spicy. Experience different textures from raw to cooked and soft to crunchy. A rainbow of colours is the key – the more colours you add, the more vitamins and minerals you will eat. Add dark and light leaves – the darker the green the higher the iron content. Leaves such as kale and spinach are great and tasty too.
Make your own dressing
A dressing can help to bring the whole dish together. Try making your own as it’ll be healthier and full of flavour.
And Of Course : Best Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil like Morocco Gold is great as a base for dressings, it is also good for your heart. Just add your favourite herbs, citrus juices and spices. Mix in some flavours like garlic, balsamic vinegar, mustard or chilli to give added dimension. Unusual additions like sweet pomegranate molasses are worth experimenting with – it goes well with middle-eastern flavours.
Choose seasonal produce
Try to choose seasonal produce, as flavours will be at their best and prices generally lower. Have fun seeing which combinations you prefer. For a tropical salad try creamy avocado with melon, orange, mint and lime. Flavour up a quinoa or chickpea salad with pomegranate seeds. When asparagus is in season, it’s fabulous in a salad along with a poached egg.
Get fruity
Sweet and savoury is always a good combo. Waldorf salad is the classic mix of apple, grapes and walnut. For added sweetness try adding some segments of orange or pomegranate to a savoury salad. Fruit salads are always good as a sweet treat. Add a touch of balsamic vinegar and mint or basil to strawberries. Watermelon and mint go well with blueberries.
The not so humble salad is making a come-back – Silversurfers
Raj Kundhi is a Senior Physiologist specialising in Nutrition, Food & Health, the effect foods have on our bodies and utilising behaviour change techniques to help individuals be the best they can be.
