Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

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

Béarnaise

Rich and buttery, this is the ultimate sauce for steak—and the perfect dip for roasted potatoes.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup Austrian Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon leaves, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried
  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Coarse sea salt to taste

Directions

Step 1

In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar, shallot, black pepper, and tarragon to a boil. Lower the heat and cook until the vinegar is reduced by half. Pour into the top of a double boiler (or a metal or heatproof glass bowl that will fit over a saucepan) and allow to come to room temperature. 

Step 2

Melt the butter in the microwave or a small saucepan and set aside. Fill the bottom of the double boiler (or another saucepan) with 2 inches of water, bring to a boil, and then lower the heat to a simmer. Whisk the egg yolks and water into the vinegar reduction and place the mixture over the simmering water. Whisk continuously until it doubles in volume. Then slowly whisk in the butter, about 2 tablespoons at a time. Continue whisking vigorously until the sauce becomes thick but is still pourable. Taste and season with salt, if desired. 

Step 3

Remove the double boiler/saucepan from the heat. The sauce can sit while you cook your steak. Whisk gently before serving, if needed.

Yields a scant cup, enough for 4 steaks

Tabbouleh

This salad features bulgur, a versatile whole grain that’s made from cracked wheat and packed with protein and fiber (it’s also great folded into just-roasted vegetables). This zesty dish can be a side or a meatless meal.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup uncooked bulgur 
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 tablespoons Condimento Bianco Menta
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 1 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
  • 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
  • 2 ounces shelled walnuts
  • 2 large ripe tomatoes or 2 cups cherry tomatoes

Directions

Step 1

Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil and add the bulgur. Simmer, according to package directions, until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes, watching carefully toward the end to avoid scorching. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Step 2

In a large bowl, make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. 

Step 3

Roughly chop the parsley, mint, and nuts and add to the bowl with the dressing. Coarsely chop the tomatoes (if using cherry tomatoes, halve them) and add along with the bulgur, folding them in well. Taste and add more salt and pepper as desired. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil. 

Yields 4 servings