Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Pan-Seared Salmon Steaks with Chive Vinaigrette

Ocean-farmed Chilean Verlasso salmon is approved by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch as a “Good Alternative” to wild-caught salmon. It is available in many US supermarkets.

Ingredients

For the chive vinaigrette:

  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced chives
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, or more to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, or more to taste
  • 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

For the salmon:

  • 4 salmon steaks, about 1-inch thick (6 ounces each), skin on
  • Sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Step 1

Make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, shallots, chives, salt, and pepper. When the salt has dissolved, whisk in the olive oil.

Step 2

Season the salmon steaks with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the salmon steaks and sear until golden and caramelized on one side, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the steaks over and cook for 3 minutes more. Remove and blot on a paper towel.

Step 4

Drizzle each steak with about 3 tablespoons of chive vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from the Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2007

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes with Olive Oil

For the fluffiest potatoes, use a ricer instead of a potato masher. Add the olive oil to the potatoes gradually. This recipe serves 12, but can easily be halved.

Ingredients

  • 2 heads of garlic, the top third of each cut off
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
  • 6 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
  • Water
  • Salt
  • 3 cups heavy cream, heated
  • 8 ounces Chihuahua or other melting cheese, cut into 1/4-inch dice

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Stand the garlic on a large sheet of heavy-duty foil. Drizzle with oil and wrap in the foil. Bake for about 1 hour, until the garlic is very soft. Squeeze the soft cloves from the skins into a small bowl and mash with a fork.

Step 2

Meanwhile, bring the potatoes to a boil in a large pot of water. Salt the water and boil over moderately high heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and return to the pot. Shake the pot over moderately high heat for 1 minute to dry the potatoes.

Step 3

3. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher, then mash in half of the hot cream. Add the remaining cream and mash again. Stir in the cheese to melt, then slowly stir in the mashed garlic and 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season with salt and transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and serve.

Serves 12 — Recipe adapted from Food and Wine, December 2006

“Finger Burner” Lamb Chops

Sometimes called “lollipop” chops, you can serve these diminutive chops hot off the grill (or grill pan) while they are still piping hot—thus the name.

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch fresh rosemary
  • 16 lamb rib chops, bones frenched
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Coarse sea salt and cracked or freshly ground black peppercorns
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons hot pepper flakes
  • 3 to 4 lemons, cut in half crosswise and seeded
  • Pickled cherry peppers, for serving (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Strip enough rosemary leaves off the bunch to obtain 3 tablespoons when finely chopped. Tie the remaining rosemary sprigs together at the stem end.

Step 2

Season the chops on both sides with the salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, and hot pepper flakes. Drizzle olive oil over the chops and pat the flavorings into the meat. Brush the lemon halves with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Set up your grill for direct grilling and heat to high. Leave a third of the grill fire-free as a safety zone. Brush and oil the grill grate.

Step 4

Arrange the lamb chops on the grate in a neat row; place the lemons, cut side down, on the grate. Grill until the lamb chops and lemons are sizzling and browned on the bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the lemons to a platter. Turn the chops and continue grilling until cooked to taste. If flare-ups occur, move the chops to the safety zone.

Step 5

Transfer the chops to a platter or plates. Squeeze the lemon halves over them. Drizzle with additional olive oil. Garnish with cherry peppers, if desired.

Serves 6 as an appetizer; 4 as a main course Recipe adapted from Project Fire by Steven Raichlen (Workman 2018)

Rigatoni with Swordfish, Capers, and Olives

With over 2,500 miles of Pacific coastline, Chilean fish markets teem with pristinely fresh catches. Feel free to substitute salmon for swordfish if desired.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds skinless swordfish steaks, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 3 tablespoons drained brined capers
  • 1/4 cup meaty green olives, pitted and roughly chopped
  • 4 teaspoons chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound rigatoni or other tube-shaped pasta
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • Fresh lemon juice

Directions

Step 1

Season the fish with salt and pepper. In a very large skillet, warm 1/4 cup of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the fish and cook, without moving, until browned on one side, about 3 minutes. (Avoid overcrowding the pan.) Transfer the fish to a platter and set aside.

Step 2

In the same skillet, warm the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the capers and fry until they start to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the olives, garlic, fennel seeds, and hot red pepper flakes and cook until everything is toasty and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the pan. Remove from the heat.

Step 3

In a large pot of well-salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until 2 minutes shy of al dente; drain.

Step 4

Toss the pasta into the skillet with the caper mixture, along with the swordfish. Cook over medium heat until the pasta is al dente, 1 to 2 minutes, adding more water if the sauce seems dry. Stir in the parsley and mint and season with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Step 5

Divide the pasta among four individual serving plates or bowls and finish each with a drizzle of olive oil.

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from Franny’s: Simple Seasonal Italian by Andrew Feinberg (Artisan 2013)