Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Chicken Paprikash

This dish, the heart and soul of Hungary, is typically served over egg noodles, and this recipe makes enough sauce to dress them as well as the chicken. I’m using boneless skinless thighs for flavor and a shortened cooking time (cube them for even faster cooking). The grating blade of a food processor is great for grating the onions, and a Microplane makes fast work of the garlic.

Ingredients

  • 3 heaping tablespoons Heirloom Sweet Paprika
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground Vine-Ripened Black Peppercorns, plus more to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream or half-and-half, at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup full-fat sour cream, at room temperature 
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, more as needed
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 large yellow onion, grated 
  • 3 large garlic cloves, finely minced or grated 
  • 1 large ripe tomato, diced, or 1 cup diced canned tomatoes 
  • 1 tablespoon Purple Shallot Powder

Directions

Step 1

In a large measuring cup, whisk the paprika, salt, and pepper into the broth until well blended; set next to your stovetop. In another large measuring cup or a bowl, whisk the heavy cream (or half-and-half) into the sour cream, then whisk in the flour; set next to your stovetop.

Step 2

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add 3 tablespoons olive oil and sear the chicken thighs on both sides, then transfer them to a large plate. Add another tablespoon of olive oil if the pot looks dry and then sauté the onions until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and tomatoes and sauté for 3 minutes.

Step 3

Use tongs to transfer the chicken back to the pot and pour on the broth-paprika mixture. Bring to a boil, then immediately turn down the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F when placed in two of the thighs. 

Step 4

Use the tongs to transfer the thighs to a clean plate. Use a spatula to scrape the cream mixture into the sauce, then a large balloon whisk to blend it in thoroughly. Constantly whisking, maintain a simmer to cook the flour and thicken the sauce for about 5 minutes. Whisk in the shallot powder. Return the chicken to the sauce to heat it through. 

Yields 4 servings

EVOO to Go Winter 2025

This Quarter’s Selection

  • Producer: Famiglia Brunetti, Trevi, Umbria, Italy
  • Olive Varieties: Frantoio, Leccino, Moraiolo
  • Flavor Profile: Medium
Stefano and Andrea Brunetti’s vintage Ape is perfect for navigating their groves’ grassy aisles and various elevations. Central Italy had a low production year, but three varietals in one of their microclimates defied the odds, enabling us to craft a delightful small-batch blend. Loaded with flavor, it’s available only for my to-go packets and for the family’s own reserve.

The exquisite fresh-pressed olive oil for this quarter’s to-go packets is a true crowd-pleaser. It comes from an exceptional producer in the picturesque hill town of Trevi, in Umbria, a region nicknamed the green heart of Italy. Loaded with fruit from three amazing varietals, it’s one of the most versatile olive oils I’ve ever tasted. I love it so much, and I’m sure you will, too.

The Brunetti family’s passion for olive oil dates back three generations. Grandfather Vittorio had owned thousands of trees in the area, but after World War II he reduced his groves radically. He kept a mere 200 trees, just enough for the family’s own olive oil needs. His son Francesco’s career began in the aviation industry, but, in 1994, weary of the corporate world, he guided the family back to its roots. Thus began the long and arduous process of expanding the groves and cultivating a carefully curated group of olive varietals.

Today, Francesco’s sons, Andrea and Stefano, tend to an impressive 45,000 trees, spread out over three microclimates at varying elevations. The Brunetti mill, outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment from Alfa Laval, allows for precise temperature control of the olives and olive paste, a critical capability for any miller intent on producing the highest-quality EVOO. Their hard work has more than paid off. They’ve garnered many of the most prestigious awards bestowed on producers, including being named in Flos Olei’s Top 20 and receiving Gambero Rosso’s coveted star honoring a decade of excellence.

Impressions and Recommended Food Pairings

Here, Stefano and I are testing this dazzling oil over lunch at the mill. I was thrilled with its flavor and aroma and how it brought each dish to a new level.

This blend of Frantoio, Leccino, and Moraiolo cultivars is a vibrant oil of medium intensity, with perfectly calibrated flavor and balance. On the nose, there’s the aroma of artichoke and green almond, apple, escarole, and fennel and the freshness of mint with a hint of vanilla. On the palate, we tasted artichoke, fresh walnuts, baby spinach, and rosemary; the bitterness of dandelion greens; and the spiciness of celery leaves and white pepper.

A highly versatile oil, it’s perfect for on-the-go drizzling and will deliciously enhance every dish. Lavish it on crusty breads and focaccia; salads; legume dishes and soups; risottos; potatoes; and sautéed vegetables. Drizzle it on freshly steamed artichokes; grilled seafood; beef, chicken, turkey, or lamb dishes; and vanilla ice cream and chocolate cake.

Pepper-and-Herb-Crusted Filet

Balsamic vinegar enhances this most tender cut of beef and adds richness to the pan juices.

Ingredients

  • 8 garlic cloves, peeled 
  • 2 tablespoons coarse sea salt
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons for searing 
  • 1 tablespoon Condimento Barili Exclusivi, plus more for drizzling
  • 1 tablespoon fresh coarsely cracked black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
  • 1/4 cup fresh rosemary needles from a 3- or 4-inch sprig 
  • 2 tablespoons grainy mustard
  • One 3-pound center-cut beef tenderloin, trimmed as needed

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 450ºF. In a small food processor, process the garlic and salt until the garlic is finely chopped. Add the 1/3 cup olive oil, vinegar, black pepper, thyme, and rosemary, and process until the herbs are evenly chopped. Stir in the mustard and set aside.

Step 2

Heat a large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When hot, add the 2 tablespoons olive oil and then the beef, searing it on all sides until nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side, making quarter turns with tongs. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let cool slightly.

Step 3

Coat the tenderloin evenly on all sides with the reserved herb mixture, and then transfer it to a meat rack set in a roasting pan. Roast it until the internal temperature reaches your desired doneness on an instant-read thermometer, about 20 to 30 minutes for medium-rare (depending on its thickness). Let it rest for at least 10 minutes to seal in the juices before you carve it into thick slices. Serve with a drizzle of pan juices and a few drops of vinegar.

Yields 8 servings

Cold Seafood Salad

You can enhance this medley, perfect for a light lunch or dinner, with steamed mussels or, for pure indulgence, lobster chunks.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/2 pound cleaned calamari, cut into rings 
  • 1 pound sea scallops, preferably the dry type
  • 20 cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small red onion, cut into rings
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Yuzu Rice Wine Vinegar
  • Juice of half a lemon, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Step 1

Prepare an ice bath: Set out a very large bowl and fill it halfway with water, then add 2 cups of ice. 

Step 2

Boil the shrimp in a large pot of water until pink, about 5 minutes; use a large strainer to scoop them out and into the ice bath to cool. Add the calamari rings to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes; use the strainer to scoop them out and into the ice bath. Turn the heat in the cooking pot down to a simmer, add the scallops, cover, and take off the heat; wait 4 minutes, and then use the strainer to scoop them out and into the ice bath. After 5 minutes, drain the seafood and place in a serving bowl along with the tomatoes and onion rings.

Step 3

Whisk the olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Add the parsley, then pour over the seafood. Toss lightly, taste, and season with pepper and more lemon juice as desired.

Yields 4 servings