Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Chicken that Fancies Itself Spanish

Don’t let its tongue-in-cheek name fool you. This dish is delicious on a cool evening.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds), cut into parts
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup grated pecorino or manchego
  • 3 teaspoons Spanish smoked paprika (pimentón)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 medium lemons, washed
  • 2 large onions, peeled and sliced
  • 1 large fennel bulb, trimmed, halved, and sliced crosswise
  • 12 whole garlic cloves, peeled
  • 3/4 cup pitted green olives
  • 1 pinch ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
  • 1 cup dry white wine, preferably Spanish
  • 1 bunch cilantro, stemmed and roughly chopped

Directions

Step 1

Heat the oven to 425°F. Combine 1/2 cup of the flour, the pecorino, and 1 teaspoon of the smoked paprika in a large bowl. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot over mediumhigh heat. Dry the chicken pieces thoroughly with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper on all sides. Dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, then place in the pot in batches. Allow the chicken to brown, about 5 minutes per side. Don’t crowd the pan. Transfer the chicken to a plate and repeat until all of the chicken pieces are golden and crispy-looking.

Step 2

Zest one of the lemons, reserving the zest, then quarter all the lemons. Add the onion, quartered lemons, fennel, garlic, green olives, the remaining 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika, and cinnamon to the pot. Cook until softened and golden, about 10 minutes. Taste for salt. Sprinkle the mixture with the remaining tablespoon of flour and stir over the heat for two minutes. Add the tomatoes and wine and bring to a boil for a minute or two. Add the lemon zest.

Step 3

Return the chicken to the pot, skin side up, along with any drippings from the plate. Poke in the onion/fennel/garlic/olive mixture so it surrounds the chicken on all sides. Place in the oven, uncovered, and bake for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with additional olive oil for drizzling.

Serves 4 to 6 — Recipe adapted from food52.com

Rack Of Lamb With Garlic, Rosemary

Sheep outnumber Australians by 3 to 1, so it’s no surprise lamb is popular on restaurant menus and in Aussie homes. This elegant entrée can be on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes. We like to serve extra virgin olive oil on the side so it can be drizzled on the meat like a sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 rack of lamb (about 2 pounds)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary needles
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika)
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea) and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium slice rye bread, broken into pieces

Directions

Step 1

Heat the oven to 450°F. Trim the lamb of excess fat, but leave a layer of fat over the meat. Cut about halfway down the bones between the chops; this allows the meat between them to become crisp.

Step 2

Place the lamb in a shallow roasting pan. Put the oil, garlic, rosemary, paprika, and salt and pepper (about 1/2 teaspoon each) in a food processor and purée; add the bread and pulse a few times to make rough crumbs. Rub this mixture over the meat side of the rack and sprinkle with more salt and pepper.

Step 3

Roast the lamb for 18 to 20 minutes, then insert an instant-read meat thermometer straight in from one end into the meatiest part. If it reads 125°F or more, remove the lamb immediately. If it reads less, put the lamb back for 5 minutes, no more. Remove the lamb from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Serve, separating the ribs by cutting down straight through them.

Serves 4 — Recipe adapted from today.com

Herb-Marinated Beef Tenderloin

Here, beef tenderloin is steeped in pungent fresh herbs, olive oil, and Aussie wine, and cooked to perfection in a two-step process called “reverse searing.” The method yields meat that is uniformly pink from edge to edge. Great for entertaining!

Ingredients

  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus sprigs for garnish
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary, plus sprigs for garnish
  • 1 sprig fresh basil (stems and leaves)
  • 1 sprig fresh sage (stems and leaves)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea)
  • 1/4 cup red wine, such as an Australian Shiraz
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, plus additional for serving
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
  • 1 trimmed 2-pound center-cut beef tenderloin
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Additional extra virgin olive oil for serving

Directions

Step 1

Strip the leaves from the thyme and rosemary sprigs and accumulate on a cutting board. Add the basil, sage, garlic, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt to the pile and coarsely chop. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir in the wine and 1 1/2 teaspoons of pepper, then slowly whisk in 1/4 cup of olive oil. Place the steaks in a large resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over the meat. Refrigerate for 2 to 8 hours, turning the bag occasionally to redistribute the marinade.

Step 2

When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 250°F.

Step 3

Drain the meat and pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper. Place on a rack in a roasting pan. If you own one, insert a remote temperature probe in the thickest part of the meat. Otherwise, you’ll have to rely on an instant-read meat thermometer. Roast the meat until the internal temperature reaches 110°F. (The time will depend on the temperature of the meat when you started.) Remove the meat from the oven and tent with foil. Let rest for 15 minutes.

Step 4

Meanwhile, preheat a cast iron grill pan or large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. (You can also nish the tenderloin on a grill.) Rub the tenderloin with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then sear on all sides until the outside is deeply browned and caramelized and the internal temperature is 125°F for rare; 135°F for medium rare. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and loosely tent with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Step 5

Carve into 1/2-inch-thick slices, reserving the juices. Shingle the slices on a warmed platter. Drizzle the meat with the juices and additional olive oil and garnish with thyme and rosemary sprigs.

Serves 4 to 6 — Recipe courtesy of the Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Grilled Salmon With Orzo, Feta, And Red Wine Vinaigrette

Native Australian, celebrity chef, and restaurateur Curtis Stone has put down roots in Los Angeles. (Check out his acclaimed restaurants Gwen or Maude if the opportunity presents.) In the meantime, here’s an easy dinner that will put the spotlight on your fine Australian olive oils.

Ingredients

For the orzo:

  • 1 1/2 cups dried orzo
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 ounces fresh baby spinach (about 3 cups, not packed)
  • 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese (4 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, for garnish

For the salmon:

  • Four 5-ounce skinless salmon fillets
  • Extra virgin olive oil, for coating the fish
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Prepare an outdoor grill for medium-high cooking over direct heat.

Step 2

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the orzo and cook, stirring often, for about 8 minutes, or until just tender. Drain the orzo in a sieve and set aside.

Step 3

In a medium bowl, whisk the vinegar, shallots, and garlic together. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 4

In a large bowl, toss the warm orzo, spinach, tomatoes, pine nuts, and basil with the vinaigrette. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside at room temperature.

Step 5

Coat the salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Oil the cooking grate. Place the salmon on the grill with the top right corner of each fillet facing the two o’clock position and cook for 4 minutes, without moving the salmon. (This will help give the salmon a good sear of nice grill marks and help it release from the grate.) Using a thin metal spatula, starting at the corner of each fillet nearest you, flip over the fillets. Grill for about 2 minutes, or until the fish is opaque with a slightly rosy center when flaked in the thickest part with the tip of a small knife.

Step 6

Mound the salad in the center of a large serving platter or four dinner plates. Sprinkle with the feta cheese. Top with the salmon, sprinkle with the chives, and serve.

Serves 4 — Recipe from What’s for Dinner by Curtis Stone (Ballantine Books, 2013)