Cooking With Essential Oils

Nature's essential oils can be used in so many ways in the kitchen. The essential oils come in four main groups -- herbs, spices, citrus fruits and flowers. They can be used in soups and starters, in marinades and sauces, with red and white meat dishes, with fish and vegetables, in salad dressings, cakes and desserts. 

The herb essential oils can be used as a marinade for the meat before cooking or simply adding it to the pot. These are very strong oils so be careful not to overpower your dish.

The citrus essential oils may be used in salad dressings, marinades, sauces and desserts. The also work with fish and poultry. Lemon butter is delicious with vegetables and fish. A few drops of essential oil of lemon will be much cheaper than whole lemons and offers the same flavor. 

Never use too much essential oil as the idea is to enhance the natural flavors of a dish you're making. Now that fall and cooler weather is around the corner I want to share some soup recipes that are very easy to make.

Avocado and Lime Soup

2 ripe avocados

1 small onion chopped

5 ounces plain yogurt

5 ounces milk

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 vegetable stock cube

1 cup water

a pinch of salt, freshly ground black pepper 

2 drops lime essential oil

Blend, by hand or in a blender, the avocados, onion, yogurt, milk, garlic, and lime essential oil.  Dissolve stock cube in the water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and slowly add the blended mixture, stirring all the time. Bring gently back to a boil and serve.

Basil, Tomato, and Potato Soup (great this time of year if you're harvesting tomatoes)

1 pound chopped tomatoes

1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced

2 onions, finely chopped

2 ounces butter

2 cups water

1 teaspoon sugar

2 teaspoons yogurt

Salt and pepper

2 drops basil essential oil

Melt the butter in a pan, add the onion and cook until soft. Add tomatoes, cook until soft. Add water and bring to a boil. Now add the potatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes. Combine the yogurt and basil essential oil, leave to stand. Sieve the soup and bring back to a boil. Stir in the yogurt and basil. Serve.

Mandarin and Carrot Soup

1 pound carrots, grated

1 large potato, grated

1 small onion chopped

1 ounce butter

2-1/2 cups vegetable stock

Salt and pepper

4 drops mandarin essential oil

Melt butter in a heavy pan, add the carrots, potato, salt and pepper. Stir and leave on low heat for 10 minutes, covered. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Then add the citrus essential oil of mandarin and reduce to a simmer of 10 minutes. Sieve and return to the heat, serving when thoroughly hot. 

The essential oils of flowers can enhance the fragrance and taste of desserts.

Rice Pudding

By the addition of essential oils you can lift an ordinary rice pudding out of the ordinary! Try adding 1 drop of palma rosa to your favorite recipe.

Chocolate Mousse

Add 1 drop of peppermint, lime, mandarin, lemon, orange, or ylang ylang essential oils. For a romantic mousse, use 1 drop of rose of 1 drop of lime essential oil to 2-1/2 cups of mousse.

Enjoy!!