Combine Cilantro And Olive Oil For An Easy Accompaniment To Fish

Olive oil gets plenty of love for health benefits and robust flavor, but somehow it still feels underrated as a condiment by itself. Sure people cook with it, make salad dressing, or drizzle it over bruschetta, but it's usually used as the finishing touch in an already flavorful meal. The reality is that good olive oil has a complex and deep taste that lets it stand alone as a delicious topping with only minimal additions. Olive oil and fresh herbs are a classic combination in lots of dishes, but their fresh earthy notes are a perfect balance to fish's mild meatiness. One of the best options for a little green is cilantro, as its bright, almost citrusy flavor brings an element that fish completely lacks.

Olive oil combined with cilantro is enough to create an incredibly flavorful condiment that you'll want to drizzle over every piece of fresh seafood you cook. It's especially great with seafood like scallops or white fish, where the infused oil can add plenty of flavor without overwhelming the more delicate main ingredient. With minimal ingredients and a quick preparation, some fish and olive oil is a simple dinner that still feels gourmet. And making the cilantro oil itself also happens to be a snap.

Cilantro oil requires nothing but the two main ingredients. Depending on how strong you want the cilantro flavor, you can use between ½ and 2 cups of packed cilantro for every 1 cup of olive oil. Keep the cilantro leaves on the stems; no need to pick them off. Just combine the herbs and oil in a blender or food processor until it forms a smooth puree. Transfer the mixture to a covered bowl, and let it sit for several hours or up to overnight in the fridge. Then strain the oil through a sieve or cheesecloth into a permanent container, filtering out the larger pieces of cilantro. Stored in the refrigerator, it will last up to two weeks.

There are a few optional steps you can take if you want to boost your cilantro oil's flavor. You can opt for a quick blanch of the herbs in boiling water before you blend them to bring out more flavor. Simple additions like a pinch of salt, cayenne, garlic, or lemon zest will also add a little extra punch with minimal work. Once your cilantro oil is in the fridge it will make a great condiment for tilapia or cod seared simply in a pan with some salt, and it will also go great with more robust fish like swordfish or salmon. It's so good, the fish really won't need anything else.