Olive Oil Basics

• Olive oil, or particularly the most commonly sold extra-virgin olive oil, has a strong flavor that can take center stage in many sauces if used indiscriminately. For this reason as well as olive oil's higher price tag, sesame oil, peanut oil and soy oil are the most commonly called for oils used when making sauces and dressings from Asia. The delicate flavor of many dressings benefit from these oils, but when making a sauce for a stir-fry or other cooked dish, you are able to use olive oil more freely. The heat from cooking at high temperatures in a wok destroys much of olive oil's health benefits.

Olive Oil Uses

• Olive oil is sometimes used in Asian-fusion dishes and those that are stir-fried, as well as when making a marinade for fish or meat. When possible, use pure olive oil, as opposed to extra-virgin olive oil for a more refined and less flavorful oil. When olive oil, and most specifically pure olive oil, is used in conjunction with strong flavors like fish, miso or soy, its own flavor is not as noticeable in the finished product.

Oils for Dressings

• For most Asian-style dressings, sesame oil or peanut oil are typically the oils of choice. Sesame oil has a strong cooked sesame flavor that pairs well with a variety of Asian-style vegetables and meats. Peanut oil is notable for its lack of flavor, which works to flavor the more delicate subtleties of rice vinegar, mirin and other mild flavorings commonly used in Japanese cookery. Do not substitute olive oil for other oils when making fresh dressings unless the recipe instructs that this is an acceptable substitution, as the olive oil's flavor will drown out the other flavors of the dressing.

Substituting Olive Oil

• Many recipes do not recommend making the substitution of other more neutral oils for olive oil, but you can experiment on your own and determine your own preferences. While it may not work in some dishes, you will find it is rather indistinguishable when used for frying and stir frying a variety of strongly flavored entrees.