Recipes with olive oil, extra-virgin

A delicious summer standard at our place. Easy to make with a mix of Southern European and Middle Eastern flavours. I use my Cucumber Raita (posted separately) to dress the lamb salad or you can use the quick yoghurt dressing provided here.

Chipotle grilled trout rubbed with a smoky paste of chipotle peppers, walnuts, and parsley, then grilled fast. The walnuts thicken the rub into a pesto-like crust. Great with hush puppies and salsa.

Mozzarella stuffed turkey burgers hide a basil-mozzarella pocket inside lean turkey patties, topped with a quick sun-dried tomato marinara and served on toasted focaccia. A restaurant-style Italian burger for 4.

Mozzarella stuffed turkey burgers hide a basil-mozzarella pocket inside lean turkey patties, topped with a quick sun-dried tomato marinara and served on toasted focaccia. A restaurant-style Italian burger for 4.

This is another popular salad from my old country, Ukraine.

This is a vibrant colourful dish that has Summer BBQ ‘written all over it”. Adding mint to the pesto brings in a classic flavour accompaniment to great Australian Lamb – fabulous with a glass of Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro, 2008, £5.99 at Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco, Waitrose and Thresher.

Grilled vegetable garden burgers with marinated eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, Bermuda onion, and tomato layered into whole wheat pita. A vegan, herb-laced summer sandwich for cookouts.

Vegetarian bean stew with slow-cooked fennel and tomatoes in olive oil. Cannellini beans simmered in broth then tossed with wilted fennel, fresh parsley, and lemon.

Country potato salad with a vinaigrette-soaked Yukon Gold base, hard-boiled eggs, dill pickles, black olives and a cayenne-spiked mayo dressing. The vinegar-while-hot trick is what sets it apart.

A gourmet take on a classic snack. Don't be fooled by the humble ingredients, this is delicious

Turkish-style pizza with a whole wheat crust, Monterey Jack, diced tomatoes, sweet Vidalia onion, and jalapeño. Optional pastrami adds smoky-peppery depth. Baked on a pizza stone for a crisp, golden oval flatbread finished with torn flat-leaf parsley.

Turkish-style pizza with a whole wheat crust, Monterey Jack, diced tomatoes, sweet Vidalia onion, and jalapeño. Optional pastrami adds smoky-peppery depth. Baked on a pizza stone for a crisp, golden oval flatbread finished with torn flat-leaf parsley.

Baked halibut steaks on a bed of slow-cooked peppers, onion, balsamic vinegar, and herbes de Provence. A Provencal-inspired one-dish fish dinner with bold, layered flavors.

The key to the subtly balanced flavors in this dish is using very fresh produce. Walnut sized new red potatoes from a farmers market work best.

This dip is good on almost everything IF you like garlic. We dip unsalted pretzels as well as pita chips and or vegetable cudites. It also makes an excellent base for brushetta.

Aubergine or Eggplant dip Serve with warm Pita or Lebanese bread