Pumpkin Hummus
Pumpkin Hummus

This hummus twist has a sweet, seasonal spin—great with vegetable chips, crudités, crackers, or pita.

Serves 4 as an appetizer — Recipe adapted from littlesunnykitchen.com

Squash and Kale Toasts
Squash and Kale Toasts

Creamy delicata squash pairs perfectly with Tuscan (aka Dinosaur or Black) kale. Need heat? Red pepper flakes!

Makes 8 toasts — Recipe adapted from Food and Wine, March 2011

Twice-Baked Breakfast Potatoes
Twice-Baked Breakfast Potatoes

Talk about a reason to get up in the morning! These Instagram-worthy twice-baked potatoes will wow your family or guests. Feel free to substitute sweet potatoes for russets. And for a vegetarian option, replace the bacon with sautéed mushrooms. We recommend a final drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over the top of the potato before serving.

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from spoonforkbacon.com

Green Lentils
Braised Fennel and Lentils

For this recipe, we prefer the green French lentils sold as Le Puy or Du Puy. Though in a pinch, you could substitute brown lentils. Save a few of the fennel bulb’s feathery fronds for a garnish.

Serves 4 to 6 — Recipe adapted from delicious.com.au

Grilled Tuna
Grilled Tuna with Red Wine, Caper, and Olive Sauce

Though deeply rooted in ancient Greece, this piquant dish is sensational when made with premium Australian olive oils and wines. If you can, buy sushi-grade tuna steaks.

Serves 4 — Recipe from The Barbecue! Bible by Steven Raichlen (Workman 2008)

Sheet Pan Chicken and Mushrooms
Sheet Pan Chicken and Mushrooms

Perfect for a weeknight, this easy meal (it can be served right from the sheet pan, which reduces clean-up time) is more impressive when made with different varieties of mushrooms. Feel free to substitute chicken breasts for the thighs if you or your family prefer white meat.

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from nomnompaleo.com

Tonnato
Tonnato

This versatile Italian sauce is traditionally served over poached veal. But we love it on chicken, crudités, cooked vegetables (like green beans), and even as a sandwich spread. For mayo, try Japanese Kewpie, Duke’s, Hellmann’s, or Best Foods. You can customize the tonnato by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes, a splash of hot sauce, Calabrian chile paste, or even fresh chile peppers.

Serves 4 to 6 as a starter — Recipe adapted from nomnompaleo.com

Burrata with Grilled Grapes and Basil
Ottolenghi's Burrata with Grilled Grapes and Basil

Delight family or dinner guests with this decadent cream-filled cheese (a member of the pasta filata, or “pulled cheese,” family). Here, it’s partnered with sweet grilled grape skewers and exquisite best-quality olive oil. For the salt, I recommend Australia’s flaky, apricot-colored Murray River salt.

Serves 6 as a starter — Recipe adapted from food52.com

Smoked Salmon and Nori Rolls
Smoked Salmon and Nori Rolls

Luscious hot-smoked salmon is a specialty of the island of Tasmania, an offshore Australian state. A bit of wasabi gives these colorful rolls a “devilish” flavor profile. If you prefer, replace the edamame spread with a schmear of cream cheese mixed with wasabi paste. A mandoline is a handy tool for slicing the cukes.

Serves 8 — Recipe adapted from drweil.com

Spice-Rubbed Greek-Style Lamb Burgers
Spice-Rubbed Greek-Style Lamb Burgers

My wife, Meghan, and I love the bold flavors of these grilled lamb burgers. We suggest a Greek salad (greens, tomatoes, sliced cucumber, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta, and a vinaigrette made with extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar) as a side dish. If you’re avoiding carbs, you can serve the burgers atop the salad.

Serves 6 — Recipe courtesy of the Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Eggs and Greens in Olive Oil
Eggs and Greens in Olive Oil

Like many followers of the Paleo lifestyle, we’ve been frying eggs in EVOO for years and have never looked back. We love the crispy edges, the incomparable flavor, and, of course, the health benefits.

Serves 1 but can be multiplied as desired — Recipe adapted from kalynskitchen.com

Spiced Persimmon Smoothie
Wakey-wakey Spiced Persimmon Smoothie

Available during the fall and winter months, seedless Fuyu persimmons are prized throughout the world for their nuanced flavors (reminiscent of pear, pumpkin, and brown sugar) and lack of astringency. Olive oil gives this vitamin- and antioxidant-packed smoothie a rich mouthfeel.

Makes 1 smoothie — Recipe adapted from downshiftology.com