5 Olive Oils That Make Simple Food Really Good

Summer cooking does not have to be complicated. In fact the best summer meals usually are not.

I eat simply in the summer. Farmers market tomatoes. Crusty bread. A good cheese. Sheet pan vegetables over pasta. A salad with whatever is in the fridge. Olive oil is what ties all of it together and the right oil makes even the simplest thing taste really good.

Here are five oils I reach for all summer long and what I actually use them on.

1. Garlic Butter Olive Oil

This is the one I use most. Sliced tomatoes on crusty bread with a drizzle of Garlic Butter Olive Oil and a little salt. That is lunch. That is also dinner sometimes. I also use it on sheet pan vegetables when I want something savory and satisfying. Toss whatever you have from the farmers market, roast it, throw it over pasta with a little more oil on top. Done.

2. Rosemary Olive Oil

Rosemary is my go to for chicken salad. It gives the whole thing a really good flavor. Simple as that. I also use it on bread with cheese from the farmers market. A good crusty loaf, a soft cheese, Rosemary Olive Oil. That is honestly all I need sometimes.

3. Meyer Lemon Olive Oil

Light, bright, and perfect for summer salads. I keep it simple. Greens, a few chopped vegetables, salt, pepper, and Meyer Lemon Olive Oil. Sometimes I add seasonal fruit and a handful of nuts and that is all it needs. It also works beautifully on sheet pan vegetables when I want something a little lighter than Garlic Butter.

4. Black Truffle Garlic Butter Olive Oil

This one sounds fancy. It is not complicated. I add it to egg salad and it completely changes the flavor. Rich, a little earthy, and really good. It also makes a simple piece of toast feel special. If you have never tried it on eggs you are missing out.

5. Tuscan Herb Olive Oil

This is my summer vegetable oil. Zucchini, eggplant, peppers, whatever looks good at the market. Toss with Tuscan Herb Olive Oil, roast on a sheet pan, and serve over rice or pasta. The herbs do all the work. You barely have to think about it.

And if you have never tried it on grilled fruit you are missing out. Peaches, pineapple, watermelon. A little Tuscan Herb Olive Oil before it hits the heat and you have a side dish that surprises everyone at the table.

A Few Things Worth Knowing About Summer Cooking With Olive Oil

You do not need a lot. A good drizzle is enough. More is not always better.

Finishing with olive oil is just as important as cooking with it. A little drizzle after the heat makes everything taste fresher.

Keep a few different oils on your counter in the summer. Rotating them is the whole point. Different oils change the flavor completely even with the same ingredients.

Where To Find These Oils

All five are available at Olive & Basket in Frederick Maryland and at oliveandbasket.com. Not sure which one to start with? Come in and taste them. That is always the best way to decide.