Olive Oil on Ice Cream
It seems crazy but sometimes you need a little crazy in your life.
What is Olive Oil, really? It seems like a dumb question but most of us scurry off to the store when a recipe calls for olive oil and we pour in the right amount and we go from there. Sure, that works. But what is it… REALLY? Well, it is oil made from olives. Olives are a wonderful little gem of a fruit that has a complex flavor of fruitiness, sweetness, saltiness, bitterness, and spiciness. There’s a rich and savory taste, complimented by a velvety texture that lingers.
Adding this deep flavor to something so sweet and creamy, like ice cream, creates a natural contrast. Combining olive oil with a neutral flavor of ice cream, like vanilla, allows the textures to balance themselves in a unique and wonderful way, while also allowing the complexity in flavor of a nice, high-quality EVOO to stand out.
If this does not sound like something that you would enjoy, it is okay! You are allowed to feel that way. However, being avant-garde in the kitchen involves trying things that may not feel comfortable. No matter how many times I try to get my family to eat octopus, they refuse. I understand. It’s weird, it feels gross. But who cares? Olive oil on ice cream? Why not?
