Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club
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Six Bean Salad

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

This twist on a traditional three bean salad really moves the needle for flavor—double the beans, double the taste. For color, texture, and nutrients, I love adding green (string) beans to the mix—from long beans to slim French haricots verts, there are many fresh options available now. For the legumes in this recipe, canned beans are great for convenience—just rinse and drain them before adding them to your mixing bowl. If you want to prepare your own ingredients by using dried beans, you can soak and cook most of the varieties together. The exceptions to this strategy are the chickpeas (because they have a much shorter cooking time) and the black beans (because they could tint the white beans).

Ingredients

For the vinaigrette:

  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 garlic clove, peeled and minced 
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the salad:

  • 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and steamed
  • 1 cup cooked gigante or cannellini beans
  • 1 cup cooked red kidney beans
  • 1 cup cooked black beans
  • 1 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 1 cup cooked lima beans

Directions

Step 1

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, garlic, and pepper flakes. Gradually whisk in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Season to taste with black pepper and more salt if desired. Set aside.

Step 2

In a very large bowl, gently toss all the beans together and then pour on the vinaigrette. Toss again and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to help the flavors meld before refrigerating. 

Yields 12 servings

Summer Squash in Tomato Broth with Quinoa Timbales

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro nearly eradicated quinoa from the world during his quest to destroy the Incas. But high in the mountains, some plants survived. A seed rather than a grain, quinoa gives this dish substance.

Ingredients

For the quinoa timbales:

  • 1 cup pre-washed white or black quinoa
  • Vegetable broth
  • Extra virgin olive oil for oiling the ramekins

For the squash:

  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped
  • One large white onion, peeled and diced
  • 2 pounds ripe tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 1/2 pounds zucchini and/or yellow summer squash, trimmed and diced
  • 1 to 2 jalapeños, sliced into rounds (optional)
  • Coarse salt (kosher or sea), to taste
  • Chopped fresh cilantro, chives, or flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Directions

Step 1

Prepare the quinoa according to the package directions using vegetable broth instead of water. Oil 6 ramekins or timbale molds and pack with the quinoa. Keep warm.

Step 2

Combine the garlic, half the onion, and the tomatoes in a blender jar or food processor and process until puréed. Heat a large nonreactive skillet. Add 1/4 cup of olive oil and the remaining onions and sauté them over medium heat until soft but not browned, 5 to 6 minutes.

Step 3

Add the squash and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato mixture and the jalapeños, if using. Simmer for about 3 minutes, then add salt to taste.

Step 4

To serve, tip the quinoa timbales into the centers of 6 shallow soup bowls. Ladle the squash and tomato mixture around each timbale. Drizzle with additional olive oil, then sprinkle with chopped herbs. Serve immediately.

Serves 6

Tomatoes a la Plancha

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

If you don’t own a plancha, you can make this recipe on a stovetop using a cast iron pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. This recipe also works well with bell pepper halves (stem, slice vertically, and seed them).

Ingredients

  • 4 large or 8 medium ripe tomatoes
  • 6 ounces grated Manchego cheese, about 2 cups
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more, as needed and for drizzling
  • Salt to taste

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your grill to medium.

Step 2

Prep the tomatoes by cutting out a circle in the top of each tomato, about a half-inch wider than the stem. Use a small spoon to remove most of
the seeds. Place the tomatoes on a serving dish and pack them with equal amounts of shredded cheese, pressing it in well (this helps keep it in place).

Step 3

Warm the plancha for a few minutes and then brush it liberally with olive oil, about two tablespoons. One at a time, quickly invert each tomato onto a wide metal spatula, cheese side down, and then use another spatula or tongs to slide it onto the plancha; repeat with all the tomatoes. Grill for 5 minutes to melt the cheese.

Step 4

Then, one at a time, slide the spatula under a tomato and flip it right side up, just as you would flip a pancake. Continue grilling, right side up, for another 5 minutes, until the tomatoes are tender. Transfer them back to the serving dish, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.

Serves 4

Santiago Slush

Posted on by The Olive Oil Hunter

Olive oil, especially one with a sweeter flavor profile, pairs well with creamy ingredients like cream of coconut. Pineapple juice gives the cocktail zing, and a single leaf of fresh basil adds an herbal grace note. Very refreshing on a warm day! Garnish with a fresh pineapple spear, if desired.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, preferably mild
  • 2 tablespoons sweetened cream of coconut, such as Coco Real or Coco Lopez
  • 1.5 ounces rum
  • 5 ounces pineapple juice
  • 1 fresh basil leaf
  • 2 ice cubes

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in the jar of a blender and mix on high until combined and frothy. Pour into a Spanish chato or other short glass. Garnish, if desired, with a sprig of basil.

Makes 1 drink, but can be multiplied as desired