BHA & BHT Free Orange-Ginger Herb Oil
Bright, citrusy, and alive with fresh herbs, this finishing oil transforms even the simplest weeknight plate into something that feels genuinely special. Bottled herb oils and flavored cooking oils are notorious for sneaking in synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT to extend shelf life, which makes store-bought versions a real minefield if you're trying to avoid those additives. Making your own from scratch means every single ingredient is something you chose and can verify — extra-virgin olive oil, fresh ginger, orange zest, parsley, thyme, and a pinch of sea salt. The technique is beautifully simple: gently warming the ginger in olive oil coaxes out its warmth and spice without any bitterness, and steeping the orange zest off the heat keeps the citrus flavor clean and bright rather than harsh. Straining out the solids gives you a silky, glossy oil that carries all that flavor without any grittiness. Drizzle it over grilled proteins, roasted vegetables, or grain bowls and watch it disappear fast — you'll want to keep a jar of this in your kitchen at all times.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tbsp orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Combine the olive oil and grated ginger in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Warm until the oil is fragrant and small bubbles form around the ginger, about 3–4 minutes. Do not let the ginger brown.
- 2
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the orange zest. Let the mixture steep off the heat for 5 minutes, until the oil is deeply fragrant.
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