Olive oil – the epitome of Italian cuisine. It can be used in a multitude of ways in the kitchen, and it has incredible potential to effortlessly boost flavour, intensify your sauces and pasta, and be the perfect finishing touch to your soup, bruschetta, or antipasti board.
In this blog, we’ll be focusing on flavoured oils and, more specifically, chilli oil. Right behind oil itself, chilli is another Italian kitchen staple, particularly in the southern part of the country, so we’ve paired the two together to bring you our 10 favourite ways to use chilli-infused olive oil at home in true Italian style to make the most of your Mediterranean ingredients and enjoy fantastic, homemade, authentic flavours.
South Italian Staple
Italy is one of the main producers of olive oil in the world. The majority of that is made in Puglia, where the warm climate is ideal for olive trees to thrive. A little further south is Calabria, known for its fiery chilli peppers. The combination of these two fantastic ingredients is one of the most famous and widely available products in southern Italy. Dishes like penne arrabbiata and ingredients like nduja are some of the most common food finds in southern towns where chillies are a prominent part of the daily Italian diet.
Did you know? ‘Chilli oil’ in Italian is olio di peperoncino.
Chilli Oil Health Benefits
One of the reasons that olive oil is so important in Italian food culture is its many health benefits, which is why Italy is considered to have one of the healthiest cuisines in the world.
Chilli oil contains:
· Antioxidants
· Vitamin C
· Decongestant properties
· Immunity-boosting properties
· Anti-inflammatory properties
How to use Chilli Oil at Home
The possibilities with flavoured oils are endless, especially with an iconic and versatile flavour like chilli. There are many fantastic ways to enjoy this oil's incredible taste and unique aromas at home, and we’ve put our 10 favourites together to give you some inspiration and help you make the most of this cupboard staple.
1. Arrabbiata sauce
The classic penne arrabbiata is made simple with the help of chilli oil. Thanks to the infused herbs and spices, there’s very little you need to do in the kitchen to enjoy this simple and satisfying pasta dish. To make arrabbiata sauce, simply combine chilli oil with garlic and tinned tomatoes, and season with salt and chopped fresh basil. Toss some cooked penne through the sauce and enjoy!
2. Pizza
One of the best ways to enjoy the great taste and fragrance of chilli oil is as a finishing touch, and one of our ultimate favourite ways to do that is by drizzling it onto a pizza. It adds richness and, not only does it lift the overall flavour, but it’s also great for dipping the crust into! Give it a go with a classic Margherita, pepperoni, or chorizo pizza.
3. Salad
Perfect for adding to your salad dressing or as the dressing itself, there are many ways to enhance salads with chilli oil. Why not give the below salad a go?
Mixed leaves
Feta cheese
Chopped mint
Crushed walnuts
Mixed peppers
Plum tomatoes
Cucumber
Prosciutto chunks
Drizzle of chilli oil
4. Marinade
If you’re looking for a marinade with a little more character, look no further than the mighty chilli oil. It goes perfectly with all sorts of protein, giving it that extra boost beyond the standard salt and pepper. We recommend it with salmon or steak with a side of roast potatoes and steamed veg.
5. Fried eggs
Get ready to transform your breakfast with chilli oil! Fried eggs will never be the same once you’ve given them a go the Real Italiano way. Next time you’re frying up eggs for breakfast or brunch, serve them with a generous drizzle of chilli oil for the flavour boost you didn’t know they needed!
6. Tortellini
Tortellini is a form of Italian dumplings, and it comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and fillings. One of our favourite ways to enjoy tortellini is to season it with a sprinkle of sea salt, a crack of black pepper, and a drizzle of chilli oil.
7. Humous
We love anything homemade and one of our favourite dips is humous. If you’re looking for something a little more exciting than the classic humous, why not give yours a go with chilli oil for an easy yet incredible hint of flavour? To make this delicious dip, simply whizz together some chickpeas, lemon juice, crushed garlic, salt, and chilli oil – ideal for dipping warm focaccia or a crusty loaf.
8. Cucumber dressing
Cucumbers in a chilli oil dressing are the perfect fresh and zingy side to enjoy with chicken or fish dishes. The combination of juicy, sweet, and spicy is something we’re huge fans of here at Real Italiano! You can choose to slice, dice, smash, or ribbon cut your cucumber for a fancier presentation, and season with salt, spring onions, and a drizzle of chilli oil.
9. Bruschetta
There are so many flavour combinations with bruschetta. When it comes to chilli oil, we think it goes particularly well with tomato and mozzarella, or prosciutto and olives. Chilli oil is the perfect finishing touch for that extra taste boost.
10. Antipasti
Along with pizza and pasta, antipasti boards are at the heart of Italian cuisine. Starters and the act of sharing food with others are very important in Italian food culture. So, if you’re hosting a dinner party or brunch with friends and family, why not serve up a delicious antipasti board with a couple of ramekins of chilli oil? It makes a great, effortlessly tasty dipping sauce for bruschetta, breadsticks, and cheese!
Summing up Chilli Oil Uses
The culinary possibilities and uses for chilli oil and other infused oils are endless. Chilli oil is one of our favourites here in the Italian Recipes kitchen – it’s versatile, packed with flavour and fantastic ingredients, and it’s the perfect way to add a delicate hint of heat to many different ingredients and dishes. At the very least, simply swapping regular olive oil for chilli oil in your frying pan will do wonders with no effort at all!