The Olive Oil Hunter, Author at Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil

Olive Oil Hunter News #211

Posted on April 25, 2025April 25, 2025 by The Olive Oil Hunter

Butterflied Leg of Lamb Recipe, Spotlight on Rosemary, More Reasons to Pass on Raw Milk plus Protecting Against Cardiovascular Diseases After Menopause

Lamb is a celebratory dish in so many cultures, yet the idea of preparing a leg of lamb at home can be intimidating. One way to simplify the process plus cut the roasting time is with a butterflied leg—your butcher removes the bone and opens the lobes of meat to create a flat butterfly shape, which allows fast and even cooking. Also in this issue you’ll read about a caution concerning raw milk and a successful two-pronged approach to reduce inflammation, the root cause of so many diseases.

Butterflied Leg of Lamb

Butterflied Leg of Lamb
A roasted butterflied leg of lamb makes a beautiful presentation and is a breeze to carve either at the table or in the kitchen. The olive oil and lemon marinade adds great flavor—if possible, marinate the lamb the day before you plan to cook it.
Ingredients
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried leaves
- 6 garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 leg of lamb, between 4 and 5 pounds, butterflied and trimmed of excess fat
Directions

Step 1

Strip the leaves from the rosemary, place them on a cutting board along with the garlic and salt, and mince them together. Transfer to a small bowl and add 4 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, and the black pepper. Place the lamb, boned side up, on a platter large enough to hold it and brush the marinade all over both sides of the meat; cover and refrigerate for three hours or overnight.

Step 2

When ready to cook, preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the lamb in a roasting pan and drizzle on the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Roast in the center of the oven until an instant-read thermometer reaches 135°F for medium, about 30 to 35 minutes, or 145°F for medium-well, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let the lamb rest for 10 minutes before slicing (its internal temperature will rise another 5 degrees).
Yields 8 servings

Healthy Ingredient Spotlight

Rosemary

An herb strongly associated with the Mediterranean cuisines, rosemary, or Rosmarinus officinalis,is endemic to the dry, rocky areas of the region, especially along the coast. According to the Herb Society of America,Rosmarinus comes from Latin ros and marinus,which translate to “dew of the sea.” Rosemary makes a fragrant addition to your outdoor herb garden and is very hardy, but bring any plants indoors for the winter. The herb lends a very distinctive taste to foods, from roasted lamb to potatoes. A little goes a long way—use it judiciously so that it doesn’t overpower the finished dish.

Quick Kitchen Nugget

Freezing Rosemary

Got leftovers? Rosemary sprigs will keep for a week or two when wrapped in a paper towel and placed in the vegetable drawer of your fridge. But you can also freeze them for future use. First, freeze the sprigs. When frozen, use your fingers to strip off the leaves, working from the top of the sprig downward; place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container and then return them to the freezer.

For Your Best Health

More Reasons to Pass on Raw Milk

While some people perceive raw milk as beneficial because it’s unprocessed, it actually presents a host of health risks—risks that many Americans aren’t aware of, according to a survey done by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. Case in point: The Food and Drug Administration located H5N1 bird flu virus in samples of raw (or unpasteurized) milk in tests in four states in April 2024, and bird flu has been detected in commercially sold raw milk. The vast majority of US adults don’t know that bird flu has been detected to date only in raw milk, not pasteurized milk.

Drinking raw milk can also expose you to salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, cryptosporidium, listeria, and brucella, all pathogens (or disease-causing microorganisms). While just over half of adults (56%) know that raw milk from cows, sheep, or goats is less safe than pasteurized milk, many are not sure (25%), think raw milk is “just as safe to drink” as pasteurized milk (12%), or think it is “safer to drink” (6%), according to the survey.

Almost a third of people know that drinking raw milk increases a person’s risk of foodborne illness, but 14% think it has no effect and 51% are not sure. Also, two-thirds of the survey respondents didn’t know that children are more vulnerable than adults to getting sick from the viruses and bacteria that can be present in raw milk.

Promoters of raw milk have made many claims about its health benefits, which range from preventing bone thinning to boosting the immune system. The FDA has categorized many as misconceptions, but at least half of US adults aren’t sure whether the claims are true or false.

The bottom line: “Consuming raw milk and raw milk products can make you sick, and pasteurization reduces the risk of milk-borne illness,” said Patrick E. Jamieson, director of APPC’s Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute. “Looking for the pasteurization label before buying or consuming milk or milk products such as cheese is good practice.”

Fitness Flash

Protecting Against Cardiovascular Diseases After Menopause

Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences in Finland have found that women with a disordered eating behavior, such as restricting food to control weight or body shape, and low physical activity tend to have more central body fat and a higher risk of metabolic low-grade inflammation. This, in turn, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which become more prevalent after menopause. Body fat distribution changes as menopause progresses and estrogen levels decrease, causing the adipose tissue concentrated in the hips and thighs to gradually shift to the midsection as harmful visceral fat.

The researchers investigated the connections between this inflammation and health behaviors—sleeping, eating, and physical activity—and found that the combined effect of exercise and healthy eating offers the most effective protection against inflammation and may also reduce it after menopause.

“In line with previous studies, a higher amount of visceral fat was, as expected, associated with low-grade inflammation,” said Hannamari Lankila, a doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. “Visceral fat accumulated in the midsection secretes cytokines that increase inflammation, and this can increase the risk of metabolic diseases.”

When eating and physical activity were examined together, higher physical activity was associated with lower visceral fat, especially in those women who did not display disordered eating behavior. “The connection was weaker, meaning that the protective effect of even a high amount of exercise was less, if the individual had eating-related difficulties,” Lankila continued. “Surprisingly, sleep was not a significant factor in this equation.”

The combined effects of health behaviors during menopause have not previously been studied. The menopause phase is significant, as women live more than a third of their lives after menopause, on average. During this period, the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases increases significantly.

“It’s good to remember that even after menopause, it is possible to reduce the accumulation of harmful visceral fat and thus prevent metabolic and cardiovascular diseases that may result from it,” Lankila concluded.

The study is part of the larger EsmiRs (estrogen, microRNAs, and the risk of metabolic dysfunctions) study, which was carried out from 2018 to 2022 at the Gerontology Research Center at Jyväskylä. The study participants were women living in Central Finland who were between the ages of 51 and 59.

Get More Recipes In Your Inbox!

Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Posted on April 24, 2025April 24, 2025 by The Olive Oil Hunter

Forget the white bread and American cheese. My version calls for three or four types of cheese—feel free to choose your own favorites—and slices of a crusty loaf enhanced with olive oil for another layer of flavor. I like to cut each sandwich into four lengths and artfully stack them on a plate for an elegant presentation. The following ingredients are for two sandwiches; multiply quantities as desired.

Ingredients

4 slices of crusty artisanal bread

8 ounces assorted cheeses, such as mozzarella, gruyere, Manchego, and cheddar, thinly sliced

Extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Heat a griddle, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat while you assemble the sandwiches. Place the bread on a cutting board or platter and drizzle it with olive oil. Stack equal amounts of cheese on two of the slices, then top with the remaining bread. Drizzle both outer surfaces with olive oil.

Step 2

When the griddle is ready, drizzle it with olive oil and add the sandwiches. Let them cook for 5 minutes over medium heat, pressing them down occasionally with a metal spatula. Flip the sandwiches and continue cooking until the cheese is fully melted.

Step 3

Transfer the sandwiches back to your cutting board and cut them into fourths before serving.

Yields 2 generous servings

Butterflied Leg of Lamb

Posted on April 17, 2025April 8, 2025 by The Olive Oil Hunter

A roasted butterflied leg of lamb makes a beautiful presentation and is a breeze to carve either at the table or in the kitchen. The olive oil and lemon marinade adds great flavor—if possible, marinate the lamb the day before you plan to cook it.

Ingredients

1 sprig fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried leaves
6 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 leg of lamb, between 4 and 5 pounds, butterflied and trimmed of excess fat

Directions

Step 1

Strip the leaves from the rosemary, place them on a cutting board along with the garlic and salt, and mince them together. Transfer to a small bowl and add 4 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, and the black pepper. Place the lamb, boned side up, on a platter large enough to hold it and brush the marinade all over both sides of the meat; cover and refrigerate for three hours or overnight.

Step 2

When ready to cook, preheat your oven to 425°F. Place the lamb in a roasting pan and drizzle on the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Roast in the center of the oven until an instant-read thermometer reaches 135°F for medium, about 30 to 35 minutes, or 145°F for medium-well, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let the lamb rest for 10 minutes before slicing (its internal temperature will rise another 5 degrees).

Yields 8 servings

Olive Oil Hunter News #210

Posted on April 11, 2025April 1, 2025 by The Olive Oil Hunter

Taiwanese Chicken Recipe, Spotlight on Ginger, Toasted or Untoasted Sesame Oil, Why Being a Pet Person is Good for You and Why You Could Really Be As Young As You Feel

Part of my mission as the Olive Oil Hunter is to share recipes from all different cuisines and show how they can be made healthier and more flavorful with fresh-pressed olive oil. You might think that Asian stir-fries are synonymous with peanut oil, for instance, but olive oil lends itself beautifully to dishes cooked at high heat and works in perfect balance with traditional Asian ingredients. Case in point: delectable Taiwanese chicken, a one-pan wonder that’s as easy as it is delicious. I’m also sharing research on the health benefits of having a pet and news about a simple blood test that can reveal a person’s biological age, a more accurate health indicator than whatever the calendar says.

Taiwanese Chicken

Taiwanese Chicken
Looking for a midweek dinner recipe that’s high in flavor and short on time? This filling stir-fry is the answer. If leeks aren’t available, substitute a large yellow onion. Serve as is or over rice.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, more as needed
- 2 tablespoons untoasted sesame oil
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced into thin strips
- 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced into thin coins
- 12 garlic cloves, peeled
- 4 scallions, trimmed and cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces
- 2 large leeks, trimmed, triple-rinsed, and sliced into coins
- 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into slivers
- 8 ounces asparagus, trimmed and cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup Chinese rice wine
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
Directions

Step 1

Heat a large wok or frying pan over high heat. When hot, add the olive and sesame oils and the chicken. Use tongs to turn the chicken pieces until they’ve browned on all sides and are just about cooked through. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken to a large bowl.
Yields 4 servings

Healthy Ingredient Spotlight

Ginger

With origins in southern China, ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been cultivated for more than 5,000 years. It was—and still is—widely used as a medicinal, and it is a vibrant flavoring ingredient in cooking. Technically a rhizome (not a root) with a very knobby shape and multiple branches, fresh ginger has a sharp taste that can be too strong for some people, but in cooked dishes, it adds a unique layer of flavor.

Ginger has been used for thousands of years to treat upset stomachs, nausea, colds, and even arthritis. Research attributes its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties to its hundreds of bioactive compounds like gingerol, the phytonutrient responsible for its distinctive taste.

When buying fresh ginger, look for a smooth peel—if it’s shriveled, it’s old! Store it wrapped in paper towel in the salad drawer, where it will stay fresh for about two weeks. Use a vegetable peeler or a spoon to remove the thin peel—each has its proponents. I’m partial to using a grapefruit spoon because its serrated edges and pointy tip make it easy to get around the nubs.

Quick Kitchen Nugget

Sesame Oil—Toasted or Untoasted?

If you already have a bottle of sesame oil in the fridge, do you know what type it is? It’s easy to miss that there are two kinds: untoasted sesame oil, made from raw seeds, and toasted (sometimes labeled roasted) sesame oil, made from toasted seeds. Each delivers a different kind of flavor and is used in different phases of cooking. Use untoasted sesame oil when first cooking foods and toasted sesame oil as a finishing oil—since the seeds were already cooked, you don’t want to cook them twice, which could impart unwanted bitterness to your dish.

For Your Best Health

Why Being a Pet Person is Good for You

The unconditional love of a pet is reason enough to have one in your life, but the rewards extend to physical as well as mental well-being. Pets help you ease stress and anxiety and can lower the risk for depression, according to experts at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in California, because they provide a calming presence. Caring for a pet also gives people a sense of purpose and adds structure to daily life.

Having a dog in particular helps keep you fit and lowers your risk of heart disease: Over 60% of dog owners meet the recommended weekly amount of exercise compared to just 24% of the general population. Pet owners typically have a lower resting blood pressure than people who don’t own pets and a better quality of life. If having a pet isn’t an option for you, consider other opportunities for animal interactions, like volunteering at a shelter or joining a friend on a walk with their dog.

Fitness Flash

Why You Could Really Be As Young As You Feel

A recent study from researchers at the Murdoch University Health Futures Institute in Australia found that moderate-intensity exercise can significantly influence appetite-related hormones and perceptions in obese men. It provides new insights into how exercise can aid appetite control and weight management.

According to one of the study authors, Timothy Fairchild, PhD, associate professor at Murdoch’s School of Allied Health, the study confirms their previous work showing the benefits of incorporating regular exercise into daily routines for individuals looking to manage their weight and improve their overall health.

“People understand that exercise helps burn energy. A lot of people assume that exercise also increases hunger and energy intake afterwards,” said Dr. Fairchild. “We have previously shown, using high-intensity exercise, that this is not the case. This latest study shows that even moderate-intensity exercise can have immediate and beneficial effects on appetite control in males with obesity.”

The study not only assessed food intake and appetite but also measured changes in hormones, which help regulate appetite. “Despite a strong focus on weight loss drugs in society at present, this study shows that lifestyle factors still have a strong and relevant role in helping people to live their healthiest life,” Dr. Fairchild added. “In fact, the hormones which have been shown to increase after exercise are the same hormones which the most successful weight loss drugs are mimicking. The added benefit of exercise is that you also receive the physical and mental health benefits of exercise.”

Get More Recipes In Your Inbox!