In Tuscany they are very proud of our food and wine but, of all, the king is definitely the extra virgin olive oil. If you browse a Mediterranean cookery book you will find extra virgin olive oil as an ingredient for both raw and cooked dishes, in the kitchen there are many ways to use Evo.

Is it so important that the oil is EVO?

We will never tire of writing it, absolutely yes! Extra virgin olive oil is only olive oil, it may seem trivial but non-EVO olive oil is not obtained only olives harvested from plants but also from those fallen on the ground and moreover it is not obtained only by pressing but with chemical processes.

This difference is fundamental in a balanced diet and to get all antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of the oil you must be sure to take extra virgin olive oil and not others, beware of imitations!

5 Methods for using extra virgin olive oil

As you know, extra virgin olive oil is good for any food and in Tuscany it is considered an ingredient not just a dressing. Here we will give you some suggestions.

1) Fettunta

In Tuscany there is no child or adult who does not often feed himself with bread and oil. Tuscan bread is known to be bland and therefore the oil is exalted on it. The word fettunta is an explanatory one, it refers to a greasy slice, therefore not drowned in oil but simply greased, so a drizzle of oil no more.

Some prefer to toast the slice of bread first, others rub a clove of garlic on it to flavor it, the fact is that the fettunta remains the simplest and healthiest way to enjoy the evo.

2) To season cold

For an aperitif or as a side dish you can make a pinzimonio. Just clean and cut the vegetables and dip them in a small container with oil, salt and pepper. The result is tasty and crunchy. In doing so, oil maintains all its organoleptic qualities and the vegetables also for a healthy, light and fast meal.

3) To cook

Many recipes, such as ragù for example, start from a fried strictly based on extra virgin olive oil. Also in this case, part of the final flavor is influenced by the aromas and flavors of extra virgin olive oil.

4) To fry

Not everyone knows that extra virgin olive oil is also good for frying! The smoke point (the point where the oil smokes and therefore burns) is often higher than 200 degrees, a temperature of 165-170 degrees is enough for excellent frying, so you can use the evo in complete safety. Some believe that this gives too strong a flavor to frying but if you take care to use an extra virgin oil this will not happen, try it!

5) To bake

Many more people follow a lactose-free diet and think they have to do without sweets because of the presence of butter. Instead, it is possible to replace, for example in cake recipes, butter with extra virgin olive oil, just pay attention to the proportions: 100 grams of butter equals 80 grams of extra virgin oil.

We are waiting for you at Villa Campestri to enjoy Evo

At Villa Campestri, the world’s first Evo oil resort, we use the extra virgin olive oil from our estate in all our recipes and we are waiting for you to taste them! We are waiting for you!