Olive and Pepper—Learn How to Combine them
Posted by Ruth Mercurio, Professional Olive Oil & Wine Taster on 13th Feb 2023
Olive and Pepper—Learn How to Combine them
The origin of
extra virgin olive oil is
not a mystery. Still, it brings endless
curiosities that make it even more interesting. One of them is its combination
with other vegetables and spices, such as
olive
and pepper
. All peppers have a peculiarity: they contain Capsaicin, a natural component that
gives them that characteristic spicy taste.
Not all peppers
have the same degree of Capsaicin, which is why not all of them are used to
prepare hot sauces. Some are even often used to prepare creams and soups. Here
you can learn their varieties and use them properly with your dishes,
especially with high-quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil
(EVOO). Let us discuss the following:
● The benefits of Capsaicin
● Why olives and peppers are compatible
● How to choose and combine olives and peppers
The benefits of Capsaicin
Capsaicin is a
natural component in the chili family, where sweet and hot peppers are
classified. This molecule causes a burning sensation on the palate or, in less
obvious cases, only slight numbness. Curiously, spicy is not considered a
flavor like the rest. It is instead classified as a property since it has many
more benefits. Learn more about
olive
oil extra virgin benefits
in our blog.
Peppers contain
vitamins A and C, which can be found in other vegetables or fruits. Vitamin C
is known to be abundant in citrus fruits; however, all varieties of peppers
also contain it.
Capsaicin also
acts as an analgesic in appropriate doses. If you have ever tried some spicy,
you will notice that the itching invades the taste for a while and then usually
"disappears," leaving a feeling of numbness, raw garlic, wasabi, and
ginger. Hence, it is even more surprising that peppers contain this substance
since the previously mentioned are roots with little juice. Chili peppers, in
general, usually have a fragile shell and a higher percentage of juicy pulp.
Why olives and peppers are
compatible
Olives and their
derivatives are the most flexible products due to their flavor and texture, and they are the most
consumed worldwide. Different cultures of one
extreme and another use them for their typical dishes or their
commercialization already combined with other vegetables or condiments.
The reasons why
this fruit is so combinable are
because of its neutral flavor and texture. It
is low in sodium or glucose. It has much more oilseeds than other natural products in its
category, such as almonds or walnuts, which is
why EVOO is extracted from them. Still,
in addition to that,
it has more antioxidants than many other seeds.
Olives
● Pizza
● With seafood such as cod, tuna, or tilapia
● With some types of creamy cheeses, salads, and white wines
On the other hand,
peppers are of great variety, both in colors and flavors. There are two immediate categories of
chili peppers: sweet and spicy. Sweet peppers
are the most used for their versatility. If it
ends at a point like a habanero, despite being
small and flattened, it is very spicy. But if it is rounded and tipless like
bell peppers, then it is not spicy. Similarly,
hot peppers usually have very bright colors at their early ripeness and turn
dark as they dry.
Since we have
understood the main characteristics of
olive
and pepper
, we can determine why they are so compatible. Both complement each other, none counteracts the flavor of the other, and their nature makes a perfect combination
of textures and colors.
How to choose and combine olives
and peppers
N
If
you are going to make a salad,
they are ideal formixing them cut into strips and adding a good dressing of
Extra
Virgin Olive Oil
, or if you prefer, you can add only the oil, only olives in
brine cut into slices, or add both in equal
quantities.
Another option is
to use sweet peppers to prepare canapés with some creamy cheese of your choice. Always choose
peppers that have little time in a state of ripeness for this type of
preparation since the ripper they are, the bitter taste they usually have, more than those that
are fresh, and this applies to both
categories, both for spicy and sweet.
Once you have
chosen your peppers, roast them with a bit of olive oil and let them cook over low heat, so they will
become soft and release their juice, which
will help them mix easily with the cheese. You
can do it with a hand mixer or liquefy it. You
can even use sour cream or add a little to the cheese preparation to make it
silkier. To serve the canapés, simply spread the preparation on cookies and
drip a little olive oil.
Preparing
soups is just as simple. Combine all varieties
of peppers and add them in pieces along with some onions, potatoes, carrots,
garlic, and of course, a good dose of olive oil. For that, you have to sauté all
the vegetables in a pan with the olive oil hot enough, so the soup will have a
more concentrated flavor and the touch of olive you need.
The same
principles are followed to prepare a dish or snack with hot peppers such
as habanero or jalapeño. We just have to be guided by
our taste and the type of flavor and sensation we want to achieve.Jalapeños are
versatile, so you can use them raw or in brine. But if you like them to have a special touch, add black
olives. This type of oliveis slightly more bitter
than conventional ones, but its natural flavor
is accentuated and rich in iron. To prepare a
balanced and flavorful snack with these two
elements, just make a mixture of (1) creamy cheese of your choice, (2)
jalapeños and chopped black olives, (3) a little honey, and (4) a pinch of salt and pepper.
All these tips might
behelpful to you. But
if cooking is not
your thing, or you just want to be more practical, then take a look at our store! And try the delicious
Spicy olive and pepper tapenade. Live the We Olive experience.
