When summer arrives, we change our habits… and that includes in the kitchen! We look for fresher dishes, lighter preparations, and flavours that transport us to moments of rest, sun, and good company. In the midst of this transformation, some ingredients remain, no matter the season. In fact, they shine in their own right. And, of course, extra virgin olive oil is one of them. The king of our Mediterranean diet!
At Almazaras de la Subbética, we believe that EVOO is much more than a condiment: it can become your true gastronomic star. Beyond its usual role in salads or on toast, extra virgin olive oil can be the basis for creative, surprising, and summery recipes that allow us to rediscover it from another perspective: fresher, more fun, and, of course, just as healthy.
Creative, fresh, and surprising
Summer is the ideal time to play with contrasts: sweet and savoury, cold and hot, fruit and spices. Our different EVOOs have the virtue of adapting elegantly to all of them, enhancing flavours without masking them, and providing texture, depth, and that touch of character that distinguishes a simple dish from a memorable one.
Below, we suggest five unconventional ways to enjoy your extra virgin olive oil this summer. Easy recipes, within anyone’s reach, with no need for over-complication, but with surprising results. Because yes, there is life beyond salad. And it’s delicious.
- Dressing for grilled skewers: a marinade of EVOO, lime, and fresh herbs. Summer barbecues don’t always have to be the same. A good marinade can make all the difference. Mix our delicious Parqueoliva Serie Oro with lime zest and juice, finely chopped garlic, rosemary, thyme, and a teaspoon of honey. Coat your skewers well (chicken, vegetable, tofu, or seafood) and let them rest for at least an hour. The oil hydrates, softens, and acts as a carrier for all the aromas. An explosion of flavour on the grill.
- Homemade Greek yoghurt, honey, and EVOO ice cream. A recipe that surprises with its simplicity and its incredible effect on your palate. Whisk 500g of natural Greek yoghurt with 2 tablespoons of honey, a pinch of salt, and 3 tablespoons of our acclaimed Rincón de la Subbética. Freeze in a container, stirring every half hour for three hours (or use an ice cream maker). The result: a creamy, smooth, slightly savoury ice cream with an elegant nuance thanks to the touch given by one of the most award-winning extra virgin olive oils in the world. Ideal as a special dessert or snack.
- Cherry gazpacho with EVOO. A twist on the Andalusian classic: replace some of the tomatoes with pitted ripe cherries. Blend with red pepper, cucumber, day-old bread, sherry vinegar, salt, and a good drizzle of Almaoliva Arbequino. The result is a sweeter but balanced gazpacho, where our oil adds body and enhances the flavour of the fruit. Serve it very cold with a few drops of EVOO on top and some small cubes of fresh cheese.
- Olive oil rolls for a picnic. A homemade bread with the traditional taste and the convenience of an individual format. Mix 500 grams of flour, 10 grams of salt, 7 grams of dried yeast, 300 ml of lukewarm water, and 50 ml of Almaoliva Bio. Knead, let it rest for an hour, divide into small rolls, let them prove again, and bake for 20 minutes at 200 °C. Soft, with an aroma of the countryside, and perfect for filling or as an accompaniment. A snack that tastes of home and summer, enhanced by the harmony with which the different nuances of our exquisite organic extra virgin olive oil combine.
- Summer fruits with EVOO, salt, and mint. A combination as simple as it is delicious: cut melon, watermelon, figs, or peach into pieces. Add a few fresh mint leaves, a pinch of salt flakes, and a delicate drizzle of Almaoliva Gran Selección. The oil acts as an enhancer of the natural sweetness and balances the freshness with its richness. A light and different dessert that elegantly finishes any meal.
This summer, we encourage you to look at your extra virgin olive oil with new eyes: as a versatile, creative ingredient full of possibilities. In every dish, no matter how simple, EVOO provides quality, health, and that flavour that connects us with our roots.
From Almazaras de la Subbética, we invite you to enjoy it in all its forms. Which of these suggestions will you try first?
