Whether you love to cook—or eat—chances are you have a bottle or two of olive oil in your pantry or have enjoyed a delicious dip with Italian bread at your favorite restaurant. But did you know that olive oil—especially extra virgin olive oil—is good for you too?
Olive R Twist Olive Oil Co. in Ridgewood stocks the freshest and highest quality olive oils available on the market. Co-owners Marianne Krantz and Andrea Volter are experts on the benefits of incorporating olive oil into a healthy diet.
“First-press, cold pressed, unrefined olive oils retain all their nutrients--nothing has been compromised, and all of their beneficial properties are intact,” says Marianne. “Many supermarket brands go through a refining process because they are produced from overripe or damaged olives. Contaminants slip into the oil during the second and third presses, which negate the oil’s beneficial properties. Unfortunately, refiners are permitted to add as little as 3% virgin olive oil to their mixture and claim that it is ‘100% pure’ olive oil. Therefore, it’s essential to consume olive oils that are unrefined in order to reap the nutritional benefits of the product.”
The store’s unrefined olive oils are produced from, early to mid-harvest olives. They are high in antioxidants and bioflavonoids, which can inhibit the growth of some cancers. They also help to control blood sugar, triglycerides, and inflammation and can relieve symptoms of arthritis and psoriasis. These healthy fats are low on the glycemic scale and can aid in weight stabilization and diabetes control. They’ve also been studied for their support of bone health through optimal calcium and magnesium absorption as well as their anti-viral, anti-microbial properties. Olive oil helps hydrate skin and nails, too!
Olive oil has been proven to prevent the formation of LDL (the bad cholesterol) and help control blood pressure, reducing the risk of stroke and heart attack.
There are several things to look for when shopping for high-quality olive oil. First, check for a “crush” or “harvest” date (not to be confused with the arbitrary “best by” date). Ensure the oil is unrefined, and consume it within 14-18 months of its crush date. At Olive R Twist, we “follow the crush” by sourcing olive oils from both the northern and southern hemispheres, allowing us to have the freshest oils available in the world.
“Some people are purists and like the taste of our single varietal olive oils, while others enjoy getting creative with infused oils which highlight a wide variety of different flavors,” says Marianne. “Infused oils are great for cooking and baking,” says Andrea. “Swap out cooking oil or butter with an infused olive oil in your recipes. It’s delicious.”
And don’t overlook the selection of quality balsamic vinegars in the store. “They are all from Modena, Italy, and are aged through the Solera method by fractionally blending the vinegars so that the finished product is a mixture of ages from 12-20 years, says Andrea.”
Balsamics provide similar health benefits to olive oils. They are a digestive aid containing high levels of probiotics and antioxidants, which help normalize blood pressure and stabilize cholesterol levels.
Think out of the box when using balsamics. They can be served as salad dressings and used as marinades. Try drizzling them over fruit, berries, cheese, ice cream, or yogurt. They can act as a substitute to sugar to sweeten sauces or be added to sparkling water for flavor.
Olive R Twist has over 60 oils and balsamic vinegars to taste in the store. “We love to help our customers try them, and we enjoy seeing our repeat customers come back for more,” says Marianne.
Lemon White Bean Dip
Ingredients
1-15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
¼ C tahini
¼ C Olive R Twist Olive Oil Lemon Fused Olive Oil
¼ C Olive R Twist Dill Infused Olive Oil
1 small clove garlic
Pinch of chili flakes
Sea salt
Instructions
Puree the beans, tahini, olive oil and garlic in a food processor until smooth. With the machine running, drizzle in up to ¼ C of water to thin the dip and attain the desired consistency. Place the dip in a serving bowl, drizzle olive oil over the top, and add chili flakes and sea salt.
Serve with pita bread, chips, and/or raw veggies.
--Recipe adapted from The Olive Oil & Vinegar Lover’s Cookbook (Emily Lycopolus)
olivertwistoliveoil.com
“First-press, cold pressed, unrefined olive oils retain all their nutrients--nothing has been compromised, and all of their beneficial properties are intact.”