Recipe Dish Type: Appetizer & Snack

Lemon Madeleines

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Lightly grease a non-stick madeleine pan with olive oil and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a hand mixer. Add sugar and continue mixing until dissolved.
  • Next, mix in the olive oil and lemon juice. Then, add flour, vanilla extract, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Mix well until just combined.
  • Refrigerate batter for approximately 10 minutes, mixing one more time once it comes out.
  • After the final mix, fill the madeleine pan with equal amounts of batter and place in the middle of the oven for 15-16 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
  • Dust with powdered sugar before presenting.

 

Inspired by Tasty Mediterraneo

Filippo Berio Banana Bread

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the olive oil and honey. Next, add the eggs and whisk again to combine. Then, add the bananas, yogurt, milk, baking soda, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk again.
  • Using a spatula, stir in the flour; then add the dates (or raisins) and walnuts and stir the batter again until everything is well combined.
  • Lightly oil a non-stick a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Pour the batter into the loaf pan and shake very gently so that the batter is even in the pan.
  • Place in the oven for about 50-55 minutes, check with a toothpick after that amount of time to make sure no batter comes out from the center.
  • If it passes the toothpick test, remove from the oven and let the bread cool for 30 minutes, on a wire rack if available.

 

Inspired by The Mediterranean Dish.

Ferragosto Lemon and Olive Oil Biscotti

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In one medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, salt, and almonds.
  • In another medium bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, and both of the extracts, until blended, about 1 minute.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just blended.
  • Move dough onto a clean counter and knead by hand until a smooth dough forms.
  • Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces, then shape each into 12-inch logs about 1 1/2 inch high.
  • Place the logs on the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 25 minutes or until firm to the touch.
  • Cool 10 minutes, then cut into 1/2-inch slices using a serrated knife.
  • Reduce the heat to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and place the cookies flat, laying side by side on the baking sheet.
  • Bake another 8 minutes, carefully turn over and bake about 5 to 6 minutes.
  • Cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

Tuscan Apple Berry Crostata

Olive Oil Pastry:

  • In bowl, whisk together flour and salt; drizzle olive oil over top. Using fingertips, mix until combined. Stir in 1/4 cup water; knead until dough comes together to form ball, adding up to 2 tbsp more water if necessary. Divide dough into two portions.
  • Shape each portion into flat disk; wrap each disk in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

 

Apple Filling and Assembly:

  • Preheat oven to 425˚F. Toss together apples, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, honey, sugar, vinegar, cornstarch and vanilla; transfer to large sauté pan. Cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until slightly thickened.
  • On lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of dough into 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out twelve 6-inch rounds. Transfer to large parchment paper–lined baking sheet.
  • Spread 1/2 tbsp apricot jam onto each pastry round, leaving 1 1/2-inch border all around. Spoon filling into center of each pastry round. Fold over pastry border to form crust.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and juices are bubbling. Cut into slices and serve warm or at room temperature.

 

Tip: Add 1 tsp lemon or orange zest to the fruit filling if desired.

Taco Bento Box

  • Toss together tomatoes, corn, red pepper, olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper.
  • Toss together chicken and pesto until well coated.
  • Divide tomato salsa, chicken, lettuce and tortillas between 2 bento boxes. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

Tips:

  • For a vegetarian taco, substitute black beans for chicken.
  • Add a couple dashes of hot sauce to the chicken for a spicy kick.

Olive Oil Bomboloni

  • Cook potatoes in pot of boiling salted water for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Pass through ricer while still warm; set aside. In small bowl, combine milk, sugar and yeast. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes or until foamy.
  • In large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Using wooden spoon, stir in potatoes, yeast mixture, egg, egg yolks and extra virgin olive oil until dough starts to form (or mix in stand mixer with dough hook attachment).
  • Transfer to lightly floured work surface. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, adding up to 2 tbsp more flour if necessary. Place in greased bowl, cover and let stand for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until dough is doubled in volume.
  • On lightly floured work surface, roll out dough until 1/2-inch thick. Using 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 16 donuts, rerolling scraps as needed. Transfer to lightly floured parchment paper–lined baking sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart. Cover and let stand for 45 to 60 minutes or until donuts have doubled in volume.
  • Pour enough extra light olive oil into straight-sided saucepan to come 3 inches up side; heat over medium heat until deep-fry thermometer registers 375˚F. Gently drop in donuts; deep-fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown, turning halfway through cooking time. Drain on paper towel. Let cool completely.
  • Fill piping bag with chocolate hazelnut spread fitted with plain tip. Pierce hole in top center of the cooled donuts; fill with chocolate hazelnut spread. Dust with icing sugar.

 

Tip: Alternatively, fill donuts with jam or jelly instead of chocolate hazelnut spread if desired.

Bellini Peach Popsicles

  • In blender, purée peaches, grape juice, soda water, honey and lemon juice until smooth. Slowly pour in olive oil until blended.
  • Pour into 10 ice pop molds. Freeze for 4 to 6 hours or until firm.

 

Tip: Blend in 2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh mint or basil along with other ingredients.

Baked Olive Oil Chocolate Donuts with Hidden Veggies

  • Donuts: Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease or spray 12-mold donut pan. In large bowl, whisk together all-purpose and rye flours, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In blender, purée spinach and milk until smooth. Add egg, oil and vanilla; pulse until blended, then whisk into flour mixture just until incorporated. Fold in beets and zucchini.
  • Pour batter into piping bag; pipe 2 tbsp batter into each donut mold. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until tester inserted into center of donut comes out clean. Transfer to rack; let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Reinforce donut holes with handle of wooden spoon if needed. Transfer donuts directly to rack; let cool completely.
  • Icing: Meanwhile, sift together icing sugar and cocoa powder. In food processor, purée avocado, lemon juice, olive oil, vanilla and salt until very smooth. Transfer to large bowl; stir in icing sugar mixture until smooth. Dip donuts in icing.

 

Tip: If you don’t have a donut pan, bake batter in mini muffin tins.

Tomato Crostini

  • Tofu Ricotta: In a food processor, pulse tofu, lemon juice, olive oil, nutritional yeast and salt until blended and smooth with a ricotta-like texture.
  • Crostini: Preheat oven to 375°F. On a baking sheet, toss together cherry tomatoes, olive oil, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until tomatoes burst and become juicy.
  • Toast slices of bread. Spread tofu ricotta over toast; top with tomatoes. Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.

Tip: Substitute baguette for sourdough bread if desired. Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices diagonally. Place onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet; toast in 350F oven, turning once, for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown.

Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Frosting

Cake:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease metal 13- x 9-inch cake pan with 1/2 tsp oil and dust with flour. Set aside.
  • In small bowl, stir carrots with buttermilk; set aside. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, salt, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. Using electric mixer on high speed, beat together eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla for 3 to 5 minutes or until pale and thickened.
  • Reduce speed to medium-low; slowly pour in remaining oil in steady stream. Alternately add flour mixture in 3 additions and carrot mixture in 2 additions, starting and ending with flour mixture, until smooth. Fold in walnuts, and raisins (if using). Scrape into prepared pan and smooth top.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes; turn out onto rack. Let cool completely.

 

Frosting:

  • In large bowl, stir together mascarpone, icing sugar, vanilla, orange zest and salt until smooth and well combined. Using electric mixer on high speed, beat cream until stiff peaks form when beaters are lifted. Fold gently into mascarpone mixture; spread over cake. Serve immediately or cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Tip: Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese that is much richer than traditional cream cheese; it’s less tart with a creamier texture. If desired, substitute brick-style cream cheese for the mascarpone and increase icing sugar to 1/2 cup.