Tap's Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar Usage Ideas

Many of our customers are looking for ways to expand their daily usage of olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  The opportunities are truly endless!  We have started a brief list of ideas to get your mind racing.  

We would love to hear your ideas!  Shoot us a quick email and we will work on getting it posted pronto! 

Olive Oil
We have included a few usage ideas for both culinary and non-culinary applications. There are certainly more but we hope a few of these ideas get you thinking well beyond the basics!  

Culinary Applications

  • Of course, bread dipping
  • Make a vinaigrette with your favorite balsamic vinegar (see Recipe Section) and/or Perfect Pairings for ideas)
  • As a marinade with balsamic vinegar, soy sauce or fruit juices (1 to 1 ratio)
  • Drizzle over rice, quinoa or couscous
  • Make homemade mayonnaise
  • Brush onto meat, fish or poultry before grilling or roasting
  • Use in homemade pasta sauces, soups and stews 
  • Drizzle over potatoes and other vegetables for roasting 
  • Put in olive oil mister and use in place of commercial, aerosol spray oils (containing many other ingredients)
  • Drizzle over crusty Italian bread season with herbs and sea salt, and toast in oven/broiler
  • In prepared foods in place of butter or margarine (see Butter to Oil Conversion Guidelines)
  • In baked goods (see Recipe Section and/or Butter to Oil Conversion Guidelines)
  • Make a heart healthy pesto (olive oil, basil, walnuts or pine nuts, parmesan cheese and blend in food processor)
  • As a finishing oil over cooked foods

Non-Culinary Applications
There are hundreds of uses, here are some of our favorites:

  • As a moisturizer (skin, cuticles, lips and scalp)
  • To polish wood
  • To remove eye make up
  • Shine-up stainless steel
  • Deep condition hair
  • As a component in homemade skin scrubs
  • To remove sap, tar or paint from your skin

Balsamic Vinegar

  • Blend with olive oil for a healthy, preservative-free, vinaigrette (see Recipe Section)
  • As a marinade with your favorite olive oil (1 to 1 ratio - see our Perfect Pairings for ideas)
  • Drizzled over fruits, cakes and pastries
  • Served with a gourmet cheese platter
  • To decorate plates prior to serving (thicker styles - Aceto Riserva, Bordeaux Cherry)
  • Balsamic Drink (sparking water, splash of balsamic vinegar (especially white balsamics), lemon twist and ice)
  • To dip cooked meats
  • In place of refined sugar to sweeten up your homemade sauces (homemade tomato sauce, chilis and stews)
  • As a marinade with your favorite olive oil (1 to 1 ratio - see our Perfect Pairings)
  • Sauté mushrooms with olive oil and splash of balsamic for a touch of sweetness
  • Drizzle over oven roasted vegetables upon serving
  • In baked goods such as cookies, cakes and brownies (see Recipes Section)