Healthy and Tasty Cooking with Essential Oils
Cooking with pure essential oils is an easy way to infuse your dishes with unique flavours and aromas. There are many options to choose from, such as lemon essential oils, lavender, rosemary, wild orange, vanilla, oregano or basil. All of these can enhance both sweet and savory recipes, offering not only gourmet tastes, but also demonstrated health benefits. Here’s how you can incorporate essential oils into your kitchen to create delicious, aromatic dishes.
Why Use Essential Oils in Cooking?
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from plants, offering unaltered flavours, scents, and beneficial properties. For example, for a lemon essential oil, dōTERRA® uses peel from approximately 75 oranges to obtain 15ml of pure essence. Only a few drops of this or any other dōTERRA® essence can provide intense and vibrant flavours that would otherwise be difficult to achieve with fresh or dried herbs alone. Additionally, essential oils are known for their therapeutic benefits, such as aiding digestion and reducing stress.
Tips for Cooking with Essential Oils
- Start Small: Because essential oils are potent, a little goes a long way. Begin with a drop or two and adjust according to taste.
- Mix with Fats: Combine oils with fats like olive oil, coconut oil, or butter to help disperse the flavor evenly throughout your dish.
- Avoid High Heat: High temperatures can diminish the potency and benefits of essential oils. Add them towards the end of the cooking process or in raw preparations.
Recipes to Try
1. Lemon Herb Pasta
Lemon essential oil adds a fresh, zesty flavor to this simple pasta dish.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound pasta (your choice)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 drop lemon essential oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- Remove from heat and add the lemon essential oil, stirring well to combine.
- Toss the cooked pasta in the skillet, coating it evenly with the oil and garlic mixture.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
2. Lavender Honey Ice Cream
This delightful ice cream combines the calming properties of lavender with the sweetness of honey for a unique dessert.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup honey
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 drop lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, heat the cream, milk, and honey until just simmering.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks.
- Slowly pour the hot cream mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and add the lavender essential oil.
- Chill the mixture thoroughly before churning in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Basil Pesto
Basil essential oil enhances the traditional pesto sauce, making it perfect for pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 drop basil essential oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a food processor, combine basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and garlic. Pulse until finely chopped.
- With the processor running, slowly add olive oil until the mixture is smooth.
- Add the basil essential oil, salt, and pepper, and pulse to combine.
- Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Health Benefits
Incorporating essential oils into your cooking not only enhances flavour but also provides various health benefits. For instance, lemon oil is known for its detoxifying properties, lavender for its calming effects, and basil for its digestive support. By using these oils, you can make your meals both delicious and nutritious.
Safety Precautions
When using essential oils in cooking, it’s important to ensure they are food-grade and safe for ingestion. Always use high-quality, pure essential oils from reputable sources. Additionally, avoid using oils in excessive amounts as their potency can be overwhelming and may cause adverse effects.
Conclusion
By experimenting with essential oils, you can add a new dimension to your cooking, making your dishes more flavorful and healthful. Start with the recipes above and enjoy the aromatic and therapeutic benefits of essential oils in your kitchen. For more detailed recipes and tips, explore doTERRA’s extensive resources on cooking with essential oils.
To learn more, please download the new cooking with essential oils guide from dōTERRA® here: cooking-with-essential-oils.
Keep reading: Lavender – the oil of serenity and communication