Summer Delights: Enhance Your Cooking with Essential Oils

Welcome to the fascinating world of culinary aromatherapy, where essential oils not only enhance your skin and perfume your home, but also enhance your dishes.

With summer just around the corner, it's the perfect time to explore new flavors and innovative ways to liven up your meals. In this article, I'll introduce you to essential oils in summer cooking to add a unique aromatic touch to your meals.

Whether you're new to essential oils or passionate about aromatherapy, this article is designed to offer you practical ideas and expert advice for incorporating these precious extracts into your summer cooking. Get ready to transform your meals and impress your guests with new flavors and health benefits.

4 Essential Oils for Summer Cooking

Lemon: Zesty burst

Lemon essential oil is prized for its fresh, tangy aroma. Rich in limonene, a biochemical compound with antioxidant properties, it can help boost the immune system and improve digestion.

• Top Tip: Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to your salad dressings for a fresh, refreshing touch. It pairs perfectly with salads, seafood, and vegetable dishes.
• Precautions: Use sparingly in cooking to avoid an overpowering flavor. Not recommended for pregnant women or children. Lemon essential oil is photosensitizing. Avoid sun exposure after application to skin.

Peppermint: Intense freshness

With its fresh and tangy aroma, Peppermint essential oil is ideal for summer recipes. It contains menthol, a compound that provides a cooling sensation and aids digestion.

• Helpful Tip: Add one to two drops of Peppermint essential oil to your lemonades or frozen desserts for a refreshing effect. It's also excellent in marinades and sauces.
• Precautions: Do not use in excess, and avoid use with young children and pregnant women. A single drop is often enough to flavor your dishes.

Exotic Basil: Herbaceous Flavor

Exotic Basil essential oil is rich in linalool and methylchavicol, known for their antispasmodic and digestive tonic properties. Its herbaceous aroma adds a fresh and spicy note to your dishes.

• Practical tip: Use Exotic Basil essential oil in tomato sauces, marinades for grilled meats, or pestos to enhance flavors. Just one drop is enough for a great aromatic intensity.
• Precautions: Use sparingly to avoid irritation. Do not use during pregnancy or on children without medical advice.

Rosemary Verbenone: Provençal Essence

Rosemary verbenone essential oil is particularly appreciated for its camphoraceous and slightly lemony aroma. Rich in verbenone, it is renowned for its regenerative and liver-stimulating properties.

• Top tip: Add a few drops of Rosemary Verbenone essential oil to your salad dressings, marinades, or roasted vegetable dishes. It's perfect for adding a Mediterranean touch to your recipes.
• Precautions: Do not use on children under 6 years of age or during pregnancy. Use sparingly to avoid irritation.

Refreshing Summer Recipes

Summer Lemon Salad

Ingredients ( For 4 people)

• 1 green salad
• 200 g cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 2 avocados
• 1 yellow pepper
• 1 small carrot (optional, to add texture)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Apple cider vinegar
• Lemon juice
• 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil

Preparation

1. Wash and cut the vegetables.

• Cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
• Peel and cut the cucumber into slices.
• Peel and dice the avocados.
• Deseed and cut the pepper into thin strips.
• Peel and grate the carrot.

2. Mix the vegetables in a large bowl.

3. Prepare a vinaigrette by mixing:

• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

4. Season the salad with the vinaigrette and serve chilled.

Caution: Do not overdose on Lemon essential oil to avoid an overly intense taste.

Basil Pesto

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of fresh basil
• 30 g pine nuts
• 50 g grated parmesan cheese
• 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 1 drop of exotic basil essential oil

Preparation

1. Blend the basil, pine nuts and Parmesan in a food processor.
2. Add the olive oil and blend until smooth.
3. Add 1 drop of Exotic Basil essential oil and mix well.
4. Use this pesto to season pasta, salads or as a spread.

Caution: Use in small quantities to avoid an overly strong taste.

Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Ingredients

• 200 g of natural yogurt (or soy yogurt)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 crushed garlic clove (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Chopped fresh herbs (chives, parsley or coriander)

Preparation

1. Mix the natural yogurt with the lemon juice and olive oil.
2. Add 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil and mix well. Stir in the crushed garlic.
3. Season with salt, pepper and chopped fresh herbs.

Serve this sauce with fresh vegetable sticks for a healthy and tasty appetizer.

Caution: Do not overdose on Lemon essential oil.

Fruit Tart with Chocolate and Peppermint Icing

Ingredients

• 200 g of wholemeal flour
• 80 g coconut oil
• 50 g coconut sugar
• 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water
• 300g of fresh seasonal fruit (strawberries, kiwis, peaches, etc.)
• 1 tablespoon of agave syrup
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 200 g dark chocolate
• 100 ml coconut cream
• 2-3 drops of Peppermint essential oil

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. In a bowl, combine the flour, coconut sugar, and salt. Add the melted coconut oil and mix until the mixture becomes sandy.
3. Add the flaxseed and water mixture and mix until a ball of dough forms. Spread the dough in a pie dish.
4. Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork and bake blind for 15-20 minutes.
5. Wash, peel, and slice the fruit. Mix the fruit with the agave syrup and lemon juice.
6. Heat the coconut cream in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add the chopped chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
7. Add 2-3 drops of Peppermint essential oil and mix well.
8. Arrange the fruit on the cooled tart base and pour the chocolate icing over it.
9. Let it cool in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

Serve this tart chilled for a light and delicious summer dessert.

Precautions: Do not overdose Peppermint essential oil.

Rosemary and Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 100 ml extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1-2 drops of Rosemary verbenone essential oil
• 1 drop of Lemon essential oil
• 1 teaspoon of mustard
• 1 teaspoon of agave syrup or honey
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

1. In a bowl, mix the cider vinegar, lemon juice and mustard.
2. Gradually add the olive oil while whisking to emulsify the dressing.
3. Add the essential oils of Rosemary Verbenone and Lemon.
4. Add agave syrup or honey if you wish to sweeten the dressing.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Whisk again to combine all ingredients.

Use this vinaigrette to dress green salads, grilled vegetable salads, or pasta salads for an aromatic and refreshing touch.

Caution: Do not overdose essential oils to avoid an overly strong taste.

Using essential oils in cooking offers an innovative and healthy way to enhance your dishes. These aromatic extracts, derived from plants, not only add intense and unique flavors but also provide health benefits.

By incorporating these essential oils into your summer recipes, you can transform simple dishes into aromatic delights. Whether it's a refreshing summer salad, a savory pesto, a yogurt dip for appetizers, or a delicious fruit tart with a chocolate and peppermint glaze, the possibilities are endless. Even a simple vinaigrette can become a key element of your meals thanks to essential oils.

By following my practical advice and exploring my recipes, you can fully enjoy the benefits of essential oils while impressing your guests with creative and healthy dishes. Feel free to experiment and adapt the recipes according to your preferences, while respecting the recommended dosages.

Enjoy your food!

Sources of information (bibliography):

Valérie Cupillard, Essential oils and floral waters in cooking, Éditions La Plage, May 11, 2015, 192 p. ISBN: 9782842214074

Françoise Couic-Marinier, Dr Anthony Toubol, The Living Earth Guide to Essential Oils, Living Earth Edition, November 17, 2017, 477 p. ISBN: 9782360982752

Video: “You are amazing” on France 3, “ A zen start to the school year thanks to essential oils” with Dr Françoise Couic-Marinier

Maison Jacynthe disclaims all liability. All information contained on this page is not intended to replace justified allopathic treatment or to disregard the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their own health, to inform themselves, and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified health professional is obviously recommended.