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What characteristics should a good bottle of oil have?

It might be that the quality of your olive oil is excellent, but if it is bottled in the wrong kind of container that quality is impaired. That’s why it’s important for you to know what the best olive oil bottle is like in order to ensure high quality when you go to buy your oil.

1. The color of the bottle. When you get to the olive oil aisle, something you notice from a distance is the color of the various bottles. You should rule out the transparent bottles and focus on the dark ones as they prevent the transfer of light rays, which are capable of degrading the oil.

2. The label. Once you have the oils in front of you, take note of whether the label says “extra virgin”. This is essential for determining that an oil is of the highest quality and that it provides all the necessary nutrients, since these oils have not undergone any type of refinement process and have a very low acidity level.

3. The size. An olive oil bottle that is smaller in size ensures quicker consumption, starting from the moment you open the bottle. This way, you will have a fresher oil and, therefore, an oil containing more nutrients that are good for your health.

4. The best before date. Olive oils do not usually have an expiration date, since their high stability means they are able to last longer in good conditions. However, Carbonell EVOO containers have a best before date to ensure that the oil does not lose its characteristics and is consumed while it is still fresh.

Moreover, an olive oil bottle that conveys the values of the land itself, as Carbonell bottles do — inspired by the arches of the Mosque of Cordoba — evokes the taste of tradition. And that’s how all the generations gather around the table to savor the best dishes.

Easy black olives recipes.

There are people who don’t cook with olives and only eat them as a snack. However, olives can be a great ingredient in your cooking. Are you ready to try these easy black olive recipes?

Before we begin, do you know why some olives are black and some are green? They are, in fact, the same olives, it’s just that the black ones are fully ripe and so have turned black. They generally have a stronger flavor which makes them perfect for typical Mediterranean dishes.

• Tuna with black olives à la grecque.

Our first easy black olive recipe is tuna à la grecque. You will love it!

Heat a frying pan and add a drizzle of Carbonell EVOO. Sauté an onion and a chopped clove of garlic. Add a chopped green pepper along with 2 peeled and diced tomatoes, a generous half-cup of white wine, ground cumin, oregano, dill, and salt and pepper to taste. Leave to cook over a low heat for 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, arrange 1 lb. of washed tuna cut into thick strips on squares of kitchen foil and place some sliced Carbonell Hojiblanca black olives on top. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/390°F. When the sauce is ready, put two tablespoons on each strip of tuna and make into a foil parcel. Cook in the oven for 8 minutes and it’s done!

• Pasta with cherry tomatoes and goat’s cheese

We must have a pasta recipe among our easy black olive recipes.

 

 

Heat a frying pan with a drizzle of Carbonell EVOO. Add a chopped clove of garlic and sauté. When it starts to turn golden, added half a pound of cherry tomatoes, halved, a generous half-cup of pitted Carbonell Hojiblanca black olives and a tablespoon of capers. Season with salt and pepper and stir for 2-3 minutes until the tomatoes have broken down.

Add the cooked pasta to the frying pan, along with a cup of diced goat’s cheese and 2-3 table-spoons of chopped basil. Just stir and serve!

• Tabouleh

Our last easy black olive recipe originates from the Middle East.

Boil a cup of water and pour it over a cup of couscous in a deep dish. Wait until the water has been absorbed and the couscous doubles in volume.

Finely chop 1 cucumber, 1 tomato, 1 red onion, 1 green pepper, 2 sprigs of mint and 1 sprig of parsley. Add the chopped ingredients to the couscous with 3 tablespoons of raisins and 2 table-spoons of sliced Carbonell black olives.

 

 

Dress with the zest of a lemon, half a clove of garlic, 3 tablespoons of olive oil, the juice of the lem-on, salt and pepper. Put it in the fridge and you will have a delicious, super-complete salad.

These easy black olive recipes are perfect to add an exotic touch to your day. Enjoy the taste of the best black olives for cooking: Carbonell Hojiblanca olives. Their flavor will set the taste of your cooking off to perfection!

The calories in a tablespoon of olive oil.

Calories in food give us the energy we need to function throughout the day. If you would like to know how many calories there are in a spoonful of olive oil and how many calories you need in a day, read on as we are going to tell you!

The calories in a tablespoon of olive oil

One tablespoon of olive oil contains just 135 calories. Given that you need to consume two tablespoons a day to receive all its benefits, that would be 270 calories a day.

The calories required from day to day

There is no single number of calories that a person needs to consume every day. Everybody is different and a certain number of calories is needed by different people. You can work out how many calories you need.

For men, multiply weight (in kilograms) by 25 and for women by 23. Have you done that? Then add or subtract, depending on your age:

– Less than 25 years old: +300

– 25-45 years old: leave the number as it is

– 46-55 years old: -100

– 56-65 years old: -200

– Over 66 years old: -300

It’s that easy! The final figure is the number of calories you should consume in a day. Clearly, the number of calories in a tablespoon of olive oil is nothing compared to your overall required daily intake. The calculation you’ve just made is for someone sedentary, so if you’re an active sportsperson you should consume more than the figure you calculated.

 

 

Knowing the nutritional value of olive oil can help you to control your daily calorie intake. If you want to lose weight, remember that EVOO reduces hunger. And helps you to be healthy!

*This article is published for informational purposes only. It cannot and should not replace the consultation of a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist.

Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes, delicious!

There’s no doubt that the Mediterranean diet is one of the best in terms of flavor and health benefits. Our Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes are a perfect way to start your day with plenty of energy and feeling good.

‘Pa amb tumaca’ (Bread with tomato)

Cut a small loaf of wholemeal bread in half, toast it and rub with half a clove of garlic. Cut a tomato in half and rub on the bread, pressing firmly so the flesh of the tomato sticks to the bread. Drizzle with Carbonell extra virgin olive oil and add a pinch of salt. An ideal everyday recipe.

Wash it down with a glass of orange juice and add an apple for a complete breakfast.

Yogurt with oats

This is one of the most protein-rich Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes. Put a pot of low-fat yogurt in a bowl, add oats and diced seasonal fruit. If it’s too thick, add a little skimmed milk and stir it in.

You can enjoy this breakfast with a black coffee.

Homemade pancakes with red fruits

Put one and a half cups of skimmed milk, 3 eggs, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 cup of whole wheat flour and 1 tablespoon of EVOO into a bowl. Mix the ingredients well. When the mixture is well mixed, pour a small amount into a hot non-stick frying pan and tip the pan so that the mixture covers the bottom. Turn it over when it has set on one side. Serve your pancakes with red fruits and some honey. No doubt about it, this is the stand-out recipe for the weekend, when you’re likely to have more time for cooking.

Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes need at least one serving of fruit to make a complete breakfast. Pick your favorite recipe to start the day with a smile and a lot of energy!

Is extra virgin olive oil healthy?

When asked whether or not extra virgin olive oil is healthy, there is only one answer: of course it is! Here you will find several explanations that attest to the fact that this oil is not just healthy, but actually one of the healthiest on the market.

What are the benefits of olive oil?

This oil has a whole range of benefits. In particular, it helps the cardiovascular system, since it consists of monounsaturated fatty acids that lower blood cholesterol levels and, therefore, contribute to oxygen reaching all cells of the body.

As well as strengthening cardiovascular health, extra virgin olive oil is healthy because it prevents a number of degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, thanks to its high level of antioxidants which keep the body youthful and at peak performance.

As if this were not enough, it also helps to align blood glucose levels. In this sense, it is very beneficial for people suffering from type 2 diabetes and to help prevent the onset of this disease.

In which recipes can it be used?

In as many recipes as you like! Olive oil is healthy for cooking, for eating raw, baking, and even frying. Thanks to its high stability, it is able to withstand high temperatures without degrading, unlike other oils.

It goes without saying that, as liquid gold, you must take care of it. With that in mind, it should be pointed out that extra virgin olive oil is healthy as long as it does not exceed 390ºF. At that point, the oil beings to burn—it starts to smoke—losing all of its properties, and then it cannot be consumed. Such a shame to waste something so valuable due to absent-mindedness!

Therefore, when frying, for example, you could use a kitchen thermometer which would indicate the exact point that should be reached for making a particular type of food, without needing the oil to reach its maximum heat point.

Obtain all the benefits of olive oil in all the dishes you prepare. Thanks to this oil, you will enhance the flavor of even the most traditional of dishes and ensure your family stays healthy. So now, when someone asks you whether or not extra virgin olive oil is healthy, you will know how to respond!

Source: NCBI

An antioxidant diet: what’s in it.

If you want to keep your mind and body young, an antioxidant diet can be part of the answer. An antioxidant diet ensures your cells continue to perform at their peak and do not degrade over time. So pay attention: these foods must be part of your daily life.

1. Extra virgin olive oil

We’ve discussed it before, but we want to re-emphasize that extra virgin olive oil does wonders for your health. One of its benefits are its strong antioxidant properties, thanks to its high vitamin E – known as the longevity vitamin – and polyphenol content. Two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day are essential for a nutritionally complete antioxidant diet.

2. Fruit and vegetables

Most fruit contains antioxidants, but red fruit in particular – cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and cherries – are highest in antioxidants due to their high vitamin C and magnesium.

Other fruit known for being high in vitamin C are oranges, tangerines, melon, pineapple, kiwi fruit and lemons. They all help to keep your body healthy and working well.

In terms of vegetables, those with green leaves are perfect for an antioxidant diet: chard, spinach, broccoli, carrot, tomato, zucchini, artichoke and cauliflower… This is because they are a very rich source of vitamins that help cells remain young and full of energy.

3. Nuts and seeds

Uncooked nuts provide a good dose of vitamins A and C, which means they also have an antioxidant effect in the body. Eat pistachios, almonds, macadamia nuts and hazelnuts and you’re sure to notice the difference.

Seeds like chia and sesame also contain high levels of antioxidants.

 

 

4. Fish and seafood

In order to enjoy a nutritionally complete antioxidant diet, increase your intake of fish such as salmon, which is high in vitamin A, and tuna, which is rich in vitamins C and E. You should also eat shellfish which are especially rich in vitamin E.

You will see the effects of regularly eating these foods when you look in the mirror. At first, you will see a difference in your skin, your hair, your nails… and, above all, in your higher energy levels. An antioxidant diet helps the body to function, so feed yourself with the best products… And meet the day full of life!

Fuente: NCBI

6 benefits of the Mediterranean diet that you hadn’t heard about

The Mediterranean diet has several health benefits, and extra virgin olive oil is the mainstay, thanks to the combination of all its qualities. We don’t call it liquid gold for nothing! These are the 6 benefits of the Mediterranean diet that you didn’t know about.

 

1. It helps you think better

This diet increases cognitive functions because of the high levels of omega 3 it contains. This means that it facilitates the mental processes necessary for daily activities, and it improves memory. In addition, it decreases the risk of developing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

2. It keeps you young for longer

Another of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet is that it has many antioxidants, thanks both to the fruit and vegetables consumed, and to EVOO. Antioxidants keep your cells active and young. The effect is very quickly noticeable on your skin, nails and hair.

3. It reduces inflammation

Extra virgin olive oil, an essential ingredient in Mediterranean diet, has anti-inflammatory properties. It thereby reduces joint pain, rheumatic pain, and any inflammatory disease, as well as muscle pain.

4. Sensation of lightness

The high content of seasonal fruits and vegetables makes this diet very rich in fiber. This means that another of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet is that it improves the digestive system. Moreover, thanks to the foods that make up the diet, it is not heavy.

5. It keeps your bones strong

This kind of food makes it hard for you to break a bone. By consuming nuts, dairy products, and polyphenols found in EVOO, your bones will be strengthened.

6. It helps to prevent and control type 2 diabetes

The large amount of carbohydrates and olive oil help regulate blood glucose levels, preventing and controlling this type of diabetes.

These are only 6 of the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, but there are many more. The most important: the improvement in cardiovascular health. Now you know why extra virgin olive oil is essential for health.

Fuente: NCBI

The origin of olive oil

We often purchase products without knowing much about where they come from and understanding little about their history. However, it is important to have an appreciation for the source of the food we eat in order to give them the value they deserve. Would you like to know the origin of olive oil?

The emergence of olive oil production dates back to 2000 BC, in Egypt. The production of this oil reached the Greeks in around 1500 BC and it was the Phoenicians who introduced it to the Iberian Peninsula, although this was much later on – in the 11th century BC. It must be said that culinary use of this oil was quite uncommon. In the early days it was used primarily for cosmetic purposes.

What is the origin of olive oil in the kitchen?

The origin of olive oil in the culinary world was slow to appear because there was a preference for animal fat, such as pork fat. With the emergence of Judaism, however, and its non-acceptance of eating products from this animal, olive oil started to become an essential feature in cooking.

Some cultures used it as a condiment, in small quantities, for particular foods. But, little by little, the Greeks recognized the nutritional benefits produced by this liquid gold, and certain sauces, such as “yellow sauce” – now known as mayonnaise – started to emerge.

It was the Romans, however, who started taking this oil with the seriousness it deserved, and they began developing various categories for their cuisine. As a result, recipes started to appear in Roman cuisine that included this ingredient as an essential element.

The origin of olive oil is age-old and, over the years, the quality and flavors that this oil contributes have been perfected. Today, the Carbonell extra virgin olive oil that finds its way to your table is the work of centuries-old tradition, full of wisdom, for the palate to enjoy.

Types of spanish olives.

There are many varieties of olive tree across the world and, therefore, many varieties of olives. It is important to consume products from our own land because they tend to be fresher and are also cheaper as they are not imported. Do you know the various types of Spanish olive?

Spain has several varieties of table olive, but some are more widespread and well known for their delicious taste and high quality. Among them are the Manzanilla, Hojiblanca, Gordal, Carrasqueña, Picual, Cacereña, Verdial and Lechín olives, among many others.

Carbonell olives

Carbonell uses the two most sought-after types of Spanish olive for its table olives: Manzanilla and Hojiblanca. Carbonell also presents these olives in all possible forms: with pit, without pit, sliced or stuffed.

Manzanilla green olives.

The fine and delicate flavor of these olives make them perfect for complementing dishes, as well as being a perfect snack for sharing with family and friends. Their mild flavor makes them a magnificent type of olive to suit everyone’s palate. These olives are ideal for creating wonderful moments around the table.

Hojiblanca black olives.

Another of the types of Spanish olive that is ideal for sharing with the family is the Hojiblanca olive. This type of olive is also provided in all forms and is perfect for adding to pizzas, salads and stews. Its unique, slightly sweet flavor makes it ideal to put out as an appetizer.

Enjoy delectable Spanish olives with your loved ones. They are a perfect appetizer as you don’t have to do much: simply serve. Your time together will be unforgettable.

Different types of vinegar and how they pair with your recipes.

Have you ever found that when you go to the supermarket and get to the vinegar section you don’t know which vinegar to choose? There are quite a few different types of vinegar, and for your dishes to be delicious it is important that you use the right one for each recipe.

These are the four most important vinegars to have in your kitchen for making all kinds of recipes:

Carbonell White Wine Vinegar. The flavor of this vinegar is quite light. If you prefer smooth flavors in your dishes then this white wine vinegar is a great option for you, since its acidic taste is quite moderate. This vinegar is perfect for preparing vinaigrettes, mayonnaise and hollandaise sauce.

Carbonell Balsamic Vinegar. This is one of the most popular types of vinegar for drizzling raw over cured cheeses and meats. Its flavor, texture and color help to decorate your dishes, giving them an appetizing touch. Use it in salads with goat’s cheese, blue cheese, or any cured cheese, as well as for vegetable gratin, carpaccios and risottos.

Carbonell Red Wine Vinegar. Made from the best wines of our land, this is characterized as a red vinegar that is fresh and elegant. Its taste is slightly acidic, perfect for cooking meat, fish and all kinds of stews. As a vinegar made with internationally renowned wines, it adds a unique flavor to your dishes.

Carbonell Sherry Vinegar. Among the various types of vinegar in existence, sherry vinegar is the most aromatically complex. Just a few drops of this vinegar add flavor to your recipes. This makes it perfect for pairing with authentic Mediterranean dishes, such as rice, pasta, vegetable, fish and seafood dishes.

In addition to these four vinegars described above, Carbonell White Wine and Garlic vinegar adds a touch of extra flavor to your dishes. It is an ideal vinegar for preparing baked dishes, as well as for tenderizing fish, dressing legumes and salads, and creating marinades and pickles.

Pairing your recipes with good vinegar and olive oil transforms the taste of your dishes. These distinct types of vinegar are made from the highest quality raw material, and this can be detected in the flavor and aroma of your recipes.