| Prep: 10 mins | Cook: No cook | Difficulty: Easy | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 300 | 28g | 4g | 10g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 8g | 2g | 0g | 0.01g |
As a native New Yorker with a palate shaped by the city’s culinary melting pot, I often find myself enthralled by global flavors. One of my favorites? The Mastic Infused Olive Oil. This fruit-based recipe is a delightful blend of Mediterranean cuisine classics with a twist that is distinctly New York. It is an ingenious way of incorporating the robust taste of nature into concoctions, using the mellow backdrop of olive oil as a canvas for the aromatic mastic and zingy lemon zest.
An Ode to the Mediterranean
The Mastic Infused Olive Oil shares a kinship with other Mediterranean classics such as gremolata or chimichurri, but it takes off on its own culinary journey with the inclusion of mastic. Sourced from the island of Chios in Greece, mastic is a rare resin valued for its distinctive flavor and purported health benefits, including its potential antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
The dance of flavors in this Mastic Infused Olive Oil is not only a tribute to the Mediterranean region, but also echoes the culturally driven kitchen of New York, where foods from distant lands share tables. As a stage actor by profession, presenting such a spectacular culinary drama in a bottle is just a natural extension of my love for creation and story-telling.
Health Benefits and Culinary Possibilities
Laden with the goodness of extra virgin olive oil, lemons, and mastic, this recipe is a powerhouse of health benefits. The oil serves as a rich source of monounsaturated fats, promoting heart health and controlling blood sugar. On the other hand, lemon zest adds a whiff of antioxidants, vitamins, and an effervescent flavor.
The culinary potential of this Mastic Infused Olive Oil is limitless. Drizzle it on salads, spritz it on grilled fish, stir it into your pasta, or let it be the star of your antipasti platter… it’s versatile and adds a unique twist to any dish you dream up. It’s the perfect embodiment of NYC’s culinary spirit, a fusion of global flavors, and proof that in food, as in life, variety is the spice.
I enjoy the culinary adventure that each bottle of Mastic Infused Olive Oil sets forth – bringing together the city I am from, my stint as a stage performer, and my belief in a wholesome and flavorsome life. It’s a recipe that I am sure you, too, will come to love as much as I do.
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon Mastic Crystals
- 2 Lemons (Zest)
- A pinch of Sea Salt
- 6 Assorted Fruits of your choice
Method
Step One
First, gather all your ingredients. You will need 2 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 teaspoon of Mastic Crystals, the zest of 2 Lemons, a pinch of Sea Salt and 6 assorted fruits of your choice.
Step Two
Take a medium-sized saucepan and pour in the 2 cups of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Heat it over a low flame.
Step Three
Once the olive oil is warm, add in the 1 teaspoon of Mastic Crystals and stir until they are completely dissolved. Be careful not to overheat as this can destroy the complex flavors of the Mastic.
Step Four
Add the zest of 2 lemons into the saucepan and stir well. Then add a pinch of Sea Salt to enhance the flavor.
Step Five
Allow the mixture to simmer on a low heat for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse properly. Remember to stir occasionally to prevent any ingredients from getting burnt.
Step Six
While the oil is infusing, chop your assorted fruits into bite-sized pieces.
Step Seven
After the oil has simmered for 15 minutes, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Once cooled, strain the oil to remove the lemon zest and any undissolved Mastic crystals.
Step Eight
Add in the chopped fruits into the infused oil. Stir well to make sure all the fruits are thoroughly coated in the oil.
Step Nine
Finally, store your Mastic Infused Olive Oil with fruits in a clean and dry bottle or jar. You can store it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh longer. Enjoy as a dipping sauce for bread, toss it in a salad, or drizzle it over your favorite dishes.
