An Overview On Oils

Oils and fats may not be delicious by themselves, but they are really what make our food rich and indulgent.  If you're stuck with the same oil for years, you're missing out on all the other oils which have different nuances of taste, robustness and feel.  Get to know the other oils and taste each one of them to experience the kaleidoscope of tastes which a teaspoon of oil can bring about.  You cannot believe how much a little new oil can perk up your everyday meals.

Butter is one of the most pleasant oils to use.  It melts in your tongue and leaves a faint and mellow milky, creamy, nutty taste which you can only describe as rich.  The secret to using butter (and all other fats and oils) is not to go overboard as this makes for a greasy dish and of course ruins your health.  Try different brands of butter, organic butter and ghee, a nuttier kind of butter.

Olive oil is a very healthy oil which has a wide range of tastes.  Depending on the brand and age, olive oil can be grassy, nutty, greasy, fine or robust.  In general, mildly-tasting oils are good for drizzling over salads. 

Coconut oil has been maligned for years but research shows a strange paradox—in countries where coconut oil reigns supreme, cardivoscular diseases are very low.  Good quality virgin coconut oil smells like fresh coconut with no hint of rancidity and can be stored for a very long time without going bad.  It goes well with almost any dish.

Sesame oil is of two varieties—plain and toasted.  Plain sesame oil gives just a subtle hint of flavor to dishes while toasted sesame oil is great for giving a stronger kick of flavor to Asian noodles and stir-fried veggies.

Pistachio oil is gourmet culinary oil prized for its lavish yet subdued flavor.  It is best for no-cook recipes such as for drizzling over salads and for dips and sauces.

Walnut oil is another delicious omega-3-rich nutty oil which should smell like fresh walnuts.  Buy just a small bottle and use quickly as it soon goes bad.

Peanut oil, like walnut oil, is the oil to use if you want a fragrant nutty note on your recipes. 

Life is too short to just use one oil.  There are oils aplenty to poke your tastebuds with new sensations.   Try some.  Or all.