2008
Get it Quick: Bosana Olive Oil
Lidl’s standard Olive Oil is very cheap - €3.99 for a litre. However, while it’s fine for cooking with, it isn’t really of a high enough standard or an interesting enough character that I’d use it for salads or in any situation where the flavour of the oil really mattered.
It claims to be an Extra Virgin Olive Oil but to be honest I’m not really convinced.
I’m totally convinced by a current special buy however, part of an Italian food promotion. This is a monoculture oil made entirely from Italian Bosana Olives, costs €4.49 for 500mls, and is a real bargain.
It’s a light, soft oil with a mellow flavour and a slight peppery after taste. It may not pack the mighty punch that some expensive oils do or have their strength of character, but then you don’t always want that sort of oil.
The mild but distinctive flavour and light texture make this a perfect oil to use as a dressing on salads - it adds to the flavour of the other ingredients without overwhelming them.
It would also be great served in a bowl for dipping good bread into or drizzled over meat or fish just before serving. This isn’t an oil I’d cook with - real Extra Virgin never is and this seems to me to be the real thing.
I suspect that this oil will sell fast and there is generally only limited stock of these sort of specials - so don’t hang about too long before getting yourself some.
Try it with a tomato, mozzerella and basil salad - a typical dish of Sardinia which is where the Bosana olive comes from - the combination is a match made in heaven.
This is one of the simplest as well as the tastiest dishes in the world, just slice the tomato and mozzarella and tear up some basil leaves. Arrange the lot on a plate, drizzle with the olive oil and season with black pepper. 2 minutes tops.
This was lunch today. Everything except the basil came from Lidl. It was very, very good.
