Can a single ingredient be the star of a Christmas menu?
Our answer is yes, and it's called extra virgin olive oil.
An ingredient that is not just a condiment, because it enhances every dish from appetizer to dessert.
At the heart of the success of the recipes we propose today is the choice of the best EVOO found in our shop.
Try it to believe it, you won't regret it.
1. Appetizer for Christmas dinner: bruschetta with zucchini cream and swordfish chunks
You will amaze your guests. Lemon-flavored extra virgin olive oil is the most suitable option for this recipe. It will enhance the strong flavor of the fish in a soft and light way, in harmony with the delicate zucchini cream and toasted bread. So, let's see how to prepare the recipe and what the ingredients for this appetizer are.
Ingredients:
150 g fresh swordfish
6 slices of Altamura bread
Extra virgin olive oil
Lemon-flavored olive oil
2 zucchini
Garlic
Salt to taste
Almond flakes
Preparation:
Toast the bread slices: roast them on a cast iron griddle or in a non-stick pan. Meanwhile, sear the swordfish in a pan, cut it into chunks, and season with lemon-flavored extra virgin olive oil. The cream is prepared by blending the zucchini, which you will have previously cooked with a clove of garlic and EVOO. Season the cream with salt and proceed to top the bruschetta with swordfish and almond flakes.
2. Traditional Apulian first course
The combination of legumes and seafood might seem unusual, but the fusion of land and sea flavors actually creates a dish with an extraordinary taste.
You will amaze your guests with refinement and originality without straying from tradition. Here are the ingredients and preparation:
Ingredients:
500 g Cavatelli
2 kg mussels
300 g Datterino cherry tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic
300 g cooked borlotti beans
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Chili pepper flavored oil
Salt to taste
Preparation:
Clean the mussels thoroughly, put them in a pan with oil and garlic, and let them open. In another pan, add a drizzle of oil, crushed garlic, and let it flavor. Halve the cherry tomatoes and add them to the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then add the borlotti beans and some of the mussel water. Cook Perniola cavatelli in plenty of salted water. Drain the cavatelli halfway through cooking and add them to the pan with cherry tomatoes and beans. When cooked, add the mussels, a drizzle of chili-flavored oil, and stir to combine.
Fish main course
We want to suggest a main course that can also be a salad, the base for original bruschetta, or even the sauce for a good plate of spaghetti.
What will you need to cook this delicious delicacy?
Ingredients:
1kg Octopus
3 cloves of garlic
½ liter Red wine
Bay leaf to taste
6 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil to taste
Preparation:
Wash the octopus under water, cut it into pieces. In a pot, put extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and onion. When the mixture is browned, add the octopus: it will release its water in which you will cook it. Add two glasses of red wine and, if necessary, some water, then let it cook for an hour (give or take a minute, depending on the size of the octopus). Remove from heat when the sauce has reduced and add a drizzle of oil to enhance the flavors.
If everything is clear so far, hit it like an octopus!
A healthy and tasty dessert: Orange Cookies with extra virgin olive oil
Did you know that you can substitute butter with extra virgin olive oil in desserts?
Today we recommend this delicious recipe for delicate and crumbly orange-flavored cookies. They will be the perfect end to a meal after the typical holiday feasts. Here are the ingredients and instructions:
Ingredients:
500 g all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons orange-flavored extra virgin olive oil
200 g granulated sugar
50 ml fresh whole milk
2 eggs and 1 yolk
One packet of baking powder
Preparation:
Take a bowl and combine all the ingredients until a dough forms. On a floured surface, roll out the dough and start creating cookies with your favorite Christmas shapes. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for fifteen minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
Dear friends, hoping you enjoyed our article and especially the recipes, all that's left is to get cooking and let us know how it went.
