Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club

Borgoña

Far simpler than a sangria, this Chilean drink is just red wine and macerated strawberries—sweet and refreshing at the same time.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 bottle Chilean red wine
  • Optional garnishes: lime slices and fresh mint

Directions

Step 1

Rinse, pat dry, and hull the strawberries, then cut them into pieces and place in a bowl. Toss with the olive oil and sugar and let sit for a half-hour.

Step 2

Transfer the berries to a large pitcher and add the bottle of red wine. Chill for two or more hours. Serve over ice, garnished as desired.

Serves 6

Pan-Seared Cilantro Citrus Fish

This marinade enhances all types of firm white fish, such as halibut, sole, cod, and hake, which in Chile is called merluza and is extremely popular because of its sweet, mild taste. Fun fact: What’s sold in the US as Chilean sea bass is typically neither Chilean nor bass but rather Patagonian toothfish, rebranded to make it sound more appealing. The sea bass eaten in Chile is actually called corvina. This marinated fish is delicious grilled, but here I’m detailing a stovetop method that turns the marinade into a sauce.

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided use, plus more for drizzling
  • Zest and juice (2 tablespoons) of 1 lime
  • Zest and juice (1/2 cup) of 1 orange
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro, plus a few sprigs for garnish
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 pounds white fish fillet
  • 1 tablespoon cold butter

Directions

Step 1

Mix 2 tablespoons olive oil, both zests and juices, cilantro, salt, and pepper in a deep pie plate, then add the fillet, skin side up. Marinate 1 to 2 hours in the fridge.

Step 2

Heat a large skillet. When hot, add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the fillet (skin side down), and the marinade. Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover the pan, and turn down the heat to a low simmer. Steam for 15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through (it should reach 145°F on an instant-read thermometer).

Step 3

Transfer the fillet to a platter and raise the heat under the skillet to reduce and thicken the sauce, then whisk in the butter. Cut the fillet into 4 portions, plate, and garnish with the sauce, cilantro, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Serves 4

Denise’s Stuffed Olives

When in Chile, I always look forward to breaking bread with my great friend, olive oil savant, and hostess extraordinaire Denise Langevin and enjoying her cooking. This is the first of two of her recipes that I’m sharing with you. It’s deceptively simple, but you want to source the highest quality ingredients. Note: If you prefer, you might use just one or two of the “stuffings.”

Ingredients

  • One 2-ounce piece of Serrano ham 2 sun-dried tomatoes
  • 2 ounces Marcona almonds, blanched or roasted
  • 1 pound large pitted green olives Extra virgin olive oil
  • Coarse sea salt to taste

Directions

Step 1

Separately, slice the ham and the tomatoes into slivers that will easily slide into the olives without breaking them.

Step 2

Stuff a third of the olives with ham, another third with sun-dried tomatoes, and the final third with almonds. Serve in separate bowls or on a platter. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt as desired.

Serves 8 or more

Costillar de Chanco (Chilean-Style Spareribs)

Grilling is a popular method of cooking in Chile, where families often gather on weekends to enjoy simple but ample meals, often barbecues. St. Louis-style ribs are “squared off” or trimmed and have a flat, meaty shape. Ask your butcher to halve them—this creates more flavorful surface area. Baby back ribs can be substituted for the St. Louis-style ribs and don’t need halving. Multiply quantities as needed.

Ingredients

  • 1 rack of St. Louis-style pork spareribs, halved crosswise, membrane removed
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup beer
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sweet or smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano, preferably Mexican
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Step 1

Place the ribs in a nonreactive baking pan large enough to hold them. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a blender jar and blend until well combined. Pour over the ribs, turning to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Step 2

Set up your grill for indirect grilling and heat
to medium (about 325°F). Drain the ribs and arrange them in a single layer on the grill grate. Cover the grill. After 45 minutes, check on the ribs and reposition them if needed. Close the lid and continue to cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the meat has receded from the bones by about 1/2 inch and is tender. (A toothpick inserted between the bones should go in easily.)

Serves 2