I admit it. I am an olive oil snob. Given my Greek and Italian heritage, I like to think I come by it honestly. For me, it is not out of the realm of the ordinary to shoot a spoonful of olive oil straight, like many dip into peanut butter. I typically bounce around between a few brands. I’ll use a more economical label for roasting vegetables, and a pricier, high-end olive oil to drizzle on salads or dip in bread, and yes, take a shot every now and then.
A good all around brand I’ve trusted for years is Bragg’s, but at almost $30 per 32 oz. bottle, it does come with a steep price tag. That is why I was elated to see Azure brand olive oil in the same size bottle for significantly less — only $17.71 for a plastic bottle. If you’re concerned about plastic, the glass bottle is still a steal at $21.01!
The two are equal in quality. Both are organic, extra virgin, and cold pressed. The Bragg’s variety is sourced from Greek Koroneiki olives, while the Azure product states it is sourced from Mediterranean olives. I’m okay with that, even as a Greek. When it comes to ethical sourcing and honest labeling, I trust Azure more than any other brand.
Food fit for the gods, olive oil has a multitude of health benefits. All of which you can read about on the product page. However, as I mentioned, the proof would be in the taste.
So I did a side by side comparison. The Azure brand olive oil has been great for roasting vegetables — my favorites are broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots — and is also robust and tasty enough to stand on its own as a dressing for salad.
For roasting, I mix the veggies with 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil and salt right in my cast iron roasting pan and bake at 380° That way I minimize cleanup, and who doesn’t love to minimize clean up?
I never buy salad dressing and my go to is typically just a drizzle of olive oil, a squirt of lemon juice, and salt. Usually I toss some hearts of palm and artichokes into my salads for texture and flavor. I also add avocado to almost every salad so when I toss it with olive oil and lemon, it makes its own creamy dressing. If you want a simple yet more flavorful dressing, may I recommend my tahini detox dressing?
I hope you enjoy olive oil as much as I do! I may be a biased judge, but to me, it is one of the greatest gifts from God — along with olives, feta cheese, democracy, and the most fun weddings! OPA!
