3 Tasty Snacks That Pair Well with Olive Oil

The Italians absolutely adore their olive oil and for good reason—the harmonious flavors you can enjoy are simply out of this world. A simple drizzle of olive oil can change your meals forever, which is quite similar to how we pair wine with food.

Your olive oil venture is also best for seeking new ways to enjoy a quick meal or snack with friends, all without sacrificing your fitness goals. Thankfully, you won’t need to consume the entire bottle of your gourmet olive oil—you simply have to incorporate it into your dishes and voila—an explosion of flavor similar to dishes served in restaurants.

If you’re looking for the best snacks that pair well with olive oil and to learn how it can enhance your everyday dishes, we’ve conjured this quick and easy guide to follow. Let’s dive deeper into flavors, snack ideas, and the best way to ensure you have quality bottles of olive oil by your side at all times:

Understanding the Flavors

As previously mentioned, pairing olive oil with food is quite like how we pair wine with food. You can pair this rich oil either as a compliment or a contrast, which works as follows:

• If you wish to enjoy complimentary flavors, make sure to blend two similar ingredients without overpowering the other. In this case, blending olive oil with pasta can be a good idea. You can also choose to enrich other subtle flavors, such as mushrooms and seafood.
• If you wish to enjoy contrasting flavors, however, you may opt to drizzle olive oil over mozzarella cheese melted into a flatbread. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy two distinct flavors—overpowering, yes, but it works!

The Best Snacks That Pair Well with Olive Oil

Now that you have a better understanding of how to olive oil interacts with different flavors, let’s take a look at some of our top snacks that pair well with olive oil:

1. Olive Oil and Popcorn

Popcorn is generally regarded as a healthy snack, but if you’re tired of the plain old salted variety, you may want to drizzle some olive oil into the mix. For the best results, make sure to add a little bit of salt and pepper. This is healthy and tasty, and more often than not, bordering addictive. It will surely beat your cravings over having buttered popcorn!

2. Olive Oil and Flatbread

Flatbread can be enjoyable, as it’s reminiscent of a pizza, but made for one. It can be a great snack in the afternoon, especially when paired with good cheese options such as mozzarella. If you wish to make it healthier and tastier, however, make sure to brush the dough with olive oil before baking. To further enhance the flavor, don’t hesitate to add herbs like rosemary and basil. Adding a clove of garlic can also help!

3. Olive Oil and Pasta

If you’re looking for a heavier snack, cooking your pasta with olive oil may just do the trick. Simply chopping up some garlic and sauteing it in olive oil can lead to a harmonious flavor. Dump in your audience pasta and cook up a little more, adding a bit of salt and pepper. There will be no need for a fancy truffle or other ingredients—this dish is a testament to the fact that olive oil can stand alone!

The Bottom Line

There’s no other way to put it: you simply must have olive oil in your pantry. It’s highly versatile and healthy, and will elevate any dish—even your snack options! Now that we’ve suggested some ideas for snacks that pair well with olive oil, you can use it as inspiration to create your own unique creations! If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can use it on almost everything—you’ll never know the best combination unless you try!

If you’re looking for the best bottle of olive oil to purchase, The Olive Bar at Downtown Campbell, CA has you covered. We offer you only quality olive oil sets, perfect for all your food adventures. Shop the finest bottles today!