Fustini's Oils and Vinegars

Seven Ways to Use Olive Oil and Vinegar in your Thanksgiving Feast

It’s Thanksgiving season, which means time for celebrating great food with some great people.

And on this Thanksgiving - like every Thanksgiving - we’re thankful for the delicious flavors that extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar can bring.

Perhaps you’re someone who tenses up and panics when thinking about planning and creating a Thanksgiving meal. Don’t let using high-quality ingredients like extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar scare you off.

Or perhaps you’re someone who’s always up for the challenge of Thanksgiving dinner. You’ve tried new recipes when guests joined you - some with great success and maybe others as learning experiences.

Why Use Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar? 

Whether you celebrate the opportunity to cook your family and friends a Thanksgiving meal or you shudder at the responsibility, incorporating ingredients like extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar is a simple and easy way to amp up your flavors. 

Olive oil and balsamic vinegar add in an exciting level of flavor that you just can't get in store-bought condiments. Especially with our flavor-infused varieties, adding an extra pop of flavor is simple and easy. Swapping out butter or vegetable oil and using olive oil also enhances the health benefits of the dish, providing healthy fats and other great benefits!

Best Fall-Inspired Flavors for Thanksgiving

If you're looking to add a little bit of "Thanksgiving flavor" to your dishes, you may consider incorporating some of Fustini's fall-inspired flavors. While any of our balsamic vinegars and extra virgin olive oils can be delicious in Thanksgiving bites, here are some that might bring along that extra feeling of fall. 

7 Ways to Use Olive Oil and Vinegar in your Thanksgiving Feast

So how do you incorporate these great flavors into your Thanksgiving spread? Next we share seven easy ways to boost your flavors in your Thanksgiving dishes with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic.

The Turkey

One of the easiest and most convenient ways to integrate extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar is in basting your turkey or ham before cooking it. Enhance the cooking by basting with just some extra virgin olive oil, such as Herbs de Provence, or with a fruity balsamic vinegar, like Pomegranate. Or, create your own brine with just a few steps.

Why brine a turkey? That extra liquid adds moisture to the meat, pulls out the natural juices and elevates the taste and texture of the Thanksgiving staple. And, it’s easy to make the brine yourself.

When you choose to make your own brine for your meat, you can create a flavor combination that will make your mouth water and leave your guests in awe. With just a few simple ingredients, you can take your turkey flavor to the next level. By combining flavors like garlic, onion, molasses, cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon, and of course a flavored balsamic vinegar, you can create a harmony of flavors quickly and easily. Check out this easy recipe for turkey brine.

You can even serve turkey in a different way like in this Herbed Turkey Roulade, using breadcrumbs and delicious seasonings. 

Brussels Sprouts

We get that initially, the Brussels sprouts may not seem like the most popular item on the Thanksgiving table. But it could be. Turn those once-ignored fall vegetables into a family favorite by preparing them with EVOO and balsamic. After washing, sauté the sprouts in a flavored extra virgin olive oil, like Blood Orange. Once they’re bright green, drizzle a balsamic glaze or 18 Year Traditional balsamic for a sweet balance. The tartness from the vinegar balances well with the bitterness of the Brussels Sprouts. Give this autumn produce a try by incorporating some new flavors.  

Not a fan of Brussels sprouts? Opt for other rich, fall vegetables like these Balsamic Glazed Roasted Cauliflower bites. 

The Stuffing

Dressing, stuffing, the bread and sausage thing - whatever you call it, this Thanksgiving favorite can also be amped up by incorporating flavors of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic.

In addition to the usual sausage, onions, celery, raisins, and chicken broth, add drizzle some EVOO over your bread cubes before roasting them in the oven. A herby oil, such as Herbs de Provence allows you to enhance the flavor of the bread without having to add in numerous spices.

Caramelize those onions by deglazing the sauté pan with a balsamic vinegar such as Pomegranate. The vinegar will add a touch of sweetness in your savory dish. Check out this easy recipe for Thanksgiving Dressing. Or, take a more fruity route with this Apple and Cranberry Stuffing recipe. 

Mashed Potatoes

Do you put butter in your mashed potatoes before serving.

Well, you don’t have to.

Rather than plopping in a few tablespoons of butter, unnecessarily increasing the calorie count, drizzle in some extra virgin olive oil instead. Choose a flavored oil such as Sage & Wild Mushroom, Garlic or go bold with some White Truffle oil. Adding this in last minute is so easy, but can make a big improvement in your average mashed potatoes.

Yams

If you prefer the sweeter side of potatoes - or yams - you can also elevate the profile of your dish. For mashed sweet potatoes, drizzle in a little flavored olive oil, such as Persian Lime, as you mash up the spuds. Adding in new flavors has never been so easy.

Cranberry Sauce

Whether you drizzle it on just food on your plate or on everything, or just eat it with a spoon, cranberry sauce is often a staple on the Thanksgiving table. And yes, you can amp up the flavor of the sauce, too.

For your next cranberry sauce, consider adding in a sweet balsamic vinegar, such as Cinnamon Pear.  In this Spiced Cranberry sauce recipe, we combine the sweet flavors like apple, mandarin, orange juice - and of course cranberries - to create a sauce that you’ll want to put on everything.

Or, for an even quicker addition, add a splash of a fruity balsamic like Traverse City Cherry for a new flavor.

Pies

Last comes the course that is perhaps your favorite, the pies. Whether you prefer apple, pecan, pumpkin or any other flavor, you can incorporate EVOO and balsamic into your baking. Add a drizzle of flavored oil, such as Walnut or Butter oil into your crust. In the pie filling, whether fruity or nutty, add in a splash or two of balsamic vinegar, such as Sicilian Lemon or Ginger and Honey for a sweet pop of flavor. Check out this tasty Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Pear Cream recipe.

In a pinch with your pie? You can quickly add in an extra level of flavor by simply drizzling on a balsamic vinegar on your pie before serving. Easy as that.

More into cobblers than pie? Check out this Apple Cranberry Cobbler recipe that celebrates fall flavors with the help of Blood Orange olive oil and Cara Cara Vanilla balsamic vinegar

Try Something New

With just the two ingredients of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, you can instantly amp up the flavors in your Thanksgiving meal in just seconds. Which new recipe will you try this year?

Check out our website for more Thanksgiving finds, as well as  a large collection of recipes you can try today.

 

 

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