Best Infused Oils in Texas for Salad Dressings
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In Texas, a good salad dressing is serious business. Hence, the popularity of infused oils for cooking and salad dressing.
It’s safe to say that many Texans are suckers for fresh, natural ingredients. Therefore, a well-prepared salad dressing is a point of pride for cooks living in the Lone Star State.
We can all agree that a great way of enjoying the freshness of summer involves tucking into a deliciously crisp salad. Whether you’re a ranch lover or a honey and mustard (how long does mustard last?) fan, chances are your favorite salad is topped with some sort of flavorful dressing.
But with so many kinds of dressing out there, many of us are left wondering whether or not our favorite option negates the benefits of our healthy meal or snack.
Oil-Based Salad Dressings
As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to stick to oil-based dressings, as the creamier options are typically made with calorie-dense and fat-laden mayonnaise, sour cream, or buttermilk. On the other hand, oil-based dressings are made with heart-healthy fats such as olive oil.
In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a vinaigrette. This simple oil and vinegar emulsion works together perfectly drizzled on a simple salad.
One healthy and refreshing way to get those much-recommended servings of fruit into your daily diet is by incorporating citrus juices into your salad dressings. Most vinaigrettes have an acidic component derived from vinegar, but you can also get that effect from citrus fruit – with a touch of added sweetness to boot!
If you’re looking to keep your salads (What wine goes well with salads?) on the healthier side, homemade dressings are almost always a better option. What’s more, they are usually super simple to make.
Using pantry staples that you already have on hand, it takes only a matter of minutes (or even seconds!) to whip one up. Moreover, by making your own dressing, you can control the fat, sugar, and sodium that goes into it.
And nine times out of ten, the homemade version will have significantly fewer calories as a result.
Extra virgin olive oil has been a cooking staple for thousands of years. Because of its more pronounced taste compared to other forms of oil, it’s often used to flavor salads and dressings. The olive oils we find today have evolved far from the basic form of the substance made thousands of years ago. In fact, nowadays, the variety of olive oils available in grocery stores and at markets are endless.
Infused Olive Oils
The practice of infusing flavor and herbs into olive oil is as old as olive oil itself. Infused olive oil goes back to ancient times when fresh foods such as herbs, vegetables, and/or fruits were preserved by being covered in olive oil. This process became widely popular, as it allowed fresh food products to last longer. This discovery not only revolutionized the way in which people cooked but also paved the way for olive oils to be made with delicious and unique flavors.
Nowadays, infused olive oils are usually only used to flavor food – however, in the past, they had medicinal and beauty purposes too! In modern cuisine, infused oils have come to gain somewhat of a gourmet status.
Benefits of Infused Olive Oils
Health Benefits
Organic chemical compounds lower blood pressure and relax heart muscles. As a result, scientific evidence suggests that increasing your daily intake of olive oil may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Extra Flavor
Olive oil infused with various ingredients produces an extra burst of flavor and distinctive touch to any dish.
Best Infused Oils for Salad Dressing and Cooking
Garlic-Infused Olive Oil
This oil is perfect for enhancing fresh salads with its subtle garlic (What wine goes well with garlic?) flavor. Fresh aromatic garlic is pressed to offer a brilliant bite to everything it touches.
Jalapeno-Infused Olive Oil
This personal favorite is made by crushing fresh jalapenos with freshly picked olives. (What wine goes well with olives?) This allows the spicy flavors of the jalapenos to naturally blend with the olive oil, adding some zip to your favorite salads.
Lemon-Infused Olive Oil
Made by infusing fresh lemons in olive oil, this delicious olive oil blend adds zest to salads and other dishes.
Smoky Mesquite-Infused Olive Oil
Nothing says Texas as much as the taste of smoked mesquite, so why not add this flavor to your olive oil. Mesquite is a slow-burning hardwood that’s popular with traditional pitmasters, instantly making it a unique olive oil with a truly Texas twist.
Chipotle-Infused Olive Oil
Made from extra virgin olive oil infused with chipotle peppers, this oil presents a perfect balance of the characteristic spiciness and bold, smoky flavors of chipotle. Olives are versatile ingredients and blend well with Mexican flavors, making an ordinary garden salad far more interesting – a Tex-Mex lover’s dream!
Olive Oil in Texas
The Texas olive oil industry is relatively new but is thriving with enormous potential. Despite 95% of olive sold in the US being imported from other countries, over 30,000 of American soil is dedicated to olive oil production. And Texas accounts for 10% of that acreage!
There’s no better way to support local businesses than by purchasing products made here in the Lone Star State. Buying Texas-made infused olive oils is a cut-and-dried example of choosing local produce that’s good for your health, delicious for your dishes, and great for our state's economy.
