Spotlight Spice: Leek Agrumato Olive Oil

Agru..what? If you’ve not heard the term “agrumato” before, don’t despair. It’s a term common in the olive oil industry, but it’s not-so-common elsewhere. The term describes a method of fusing the flavors of olives with fruit, herbs, or in this case, leeks, by crushing or pressing them together, resulting in a tasty, flavored olive oil right out of the mill (no extracts or essences necessary)!

While the “agrumato” may have been unfamiliar to you, we’re guessing “leek” is not. Leeks are a member of the allium family, which is the same family of plants onions, garlic, shallots, and chives belong to. Leeks have an onion-like flavor; however, you’ll find it much milder than your standard onion, and a bit sweeter too! This makes our Leek Agrumato Olive Oil a wonderful addition to creamy soups, risottos, and pasta dishes, and a nice olive oil to use in making a vinaigrette (we like to pair it with fruity balsamics and wine vinegars).

It’s also wonderful drizzled over roasted or baked potatoes or whipped into a big bowl of mashed potatoes. Try combining it with a dash of soy sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce (we prefer Col. Pabst), salt and pepper to create a delicious marinade for chicken, beef, and lamb. AllSpicer Rory says, “This oil has become one of my favorites. I’ve been using it for cooking eggs, brushing over pizza crust, and drizzling over breads and roasted veggies. It’s perfect!”

Like the customer-favorite Garlic Infused Olive Oil, our Leek Agrumato Olive Oil is a versatile oil to have on hand for use in daily cooking. This one is seasonal, so swing by the shop or hit the online store to pick up a bottle while it’s in stock.