--- title: How do you pair olive oil with food? description: "Just like wine, olive oil should be paired with your food. Learn ways to pair oil based off of three different categories: delicate, medium, and robust." image: https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/pairing-olive-oil-with-food.jpg --- Translate this page - [![United States of America (US)](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/United%20States%20of%20America%20(US).svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/en) - [![Spain (ES)-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/Spain%20(ES)-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/es) - [![portugal](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/portugal.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/pt) - [![francia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/francia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/fr) - [![italia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/italia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/it) - [![greece](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/greece.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/el) - [![arabic-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/arabic-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/ar) - [![turkia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/turkia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/tr) - [![japon](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/japon.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/ja) - [![china-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/china-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/zh-TW) [Membership](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/members) [Member Login](https://my.naooa.org/MIC/login) ![hero-baner](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/pairing-olive-oil-with-food.jpg) [Cooking With Olive Oil](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/topic/cooking-with-olive-oil) # How do you pair olive oil with food? Translate this page - [![United States of America (US)](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/United%20States%20of%20America%20(US).svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/en) - [![Spain (ES)-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/Spain%20(ES)-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/es) - [![portugal](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/portugal.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/pt) - [![francia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/francia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/fr) - [![italia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/italia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/it) - [![greece](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/greece.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/el) - [![arabic-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/arabic-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/ar) - [![turkia](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/turkia.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/tr) - [![japon](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/japon.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/ja) - [![china-1](https://518490.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/518490/china-1.svg) ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#googtrans/zh-TW) ![Picture of olive oil with food](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hs-fs/hubfs/pairing-olive-oil-with-food.jpg?width=1024&name=pairing-olive-oil-with-food.jpg "Picture of olive oil with food")Extra virgin olive oils vary in taste. When you pick the right olive oil for your dish, the flavors are in harmony, just like when you pair a wine with your dinner. But how do you know which olive oil to pick? Here are some food pairing ideas based on the three different categories of extra virgin olive oil: delicate, medium, and robust. | #### Delicate | #### Medium | #### Robust | | --- | --- | --- | | These oils have a buttery or floral taste, with a slight peppery finish. | A medium oil will most likely have a fruity taste, and a spicy or peppery finish. | A robust oil has an intense, bold flavor and a prominent peppery finish. | | - Fish - Mild Salad Greens - Mild Cheeses - Pesto - Home Baking - Raw Vegetables - Raw Shellfish - Eggs - Plain Yogurt | - Fresh-baked bread - Chicken - Pork - Roasted or sautéed vegetables - Any type of pasta - Pizza - Soft Cheeses - Ice cream | - Beef - Lamb - Marinades - Stew - Pasta sauce - Bold cheeses - Bitter salad greens   | Delicate oils pair better with raw and mild tasting foods. It adds more of a subtle flavor to your dish. A medium oil is better paired with white meats, other than most fish. Otherwise, it’s best with carbohydrates and sweeter foods. Robust is meant for hearty dishes that already have an impactful flavor to them. When in doubt of what oil to buy for your dish, remember this rule: **what grows together tastes good together**. If you are making an Italian dish, try using an Italian olive oil. At the [Olive Oil Conference](http://www.oliveoilconference.com/), we take pairing to the next level by tasting the same dish with two different olive oils. It is truly amazing how olive oil can change a dish. We recommend trying it at home! ![2016-07-19 19.28.07.jpg](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hs-fs/hubfs/oo-conference/2016-07-19%2019.28.07.jpg?width=708&height=532&name=2016-07-19%2019.28.07.jpg) Don't forget to let your palate guide you. No one can tell you what will taste best for you. Use this information as a guide to help you navigate the world of olive oil, but never let it rule you. Ultimately, you need to find what tastes good to you. ### Popular Posts [![www.aboutoliveoil.orghubfsfrenchfries](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.aboutoliveoil.orghubfsfrenchfries.jpg?width=1000&height=563&name=www.aboutoliveoil.orghubfsfrenchfries.jpg) ### Is It Safe to Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil? Read More ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/is-it-safe-to-cook-with-extra-virgin-olive-oil) [![oo3](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Stock_photos_from_Janey/oo3.jpg?width=800&height=600&name=oo3.jpg) ### 5 expert tips for buying olive oil Read More ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/5-expert-tips-for-buying-olive-oil) [![Olive Oil Myths vs. Facts Redesign](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Olive%20Oil%20Myths%20vs.%20Facts%20Redesign.jpg?width=1200&height=1553&name=Olive%20Oil%20Myths%20vs.%20Facts%20Redesign.jpg) ### Olive Oil Myths vs Facts Read More ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/olive-oil-myths-facts) [![cover](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/Consumer%20Guide%20Cover.png "cover")](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/olive-oil-guide) [ Free Download ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/olive-oil-guide) ### Topics [ Olive Oil Facts ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/topic/about-olive-oil) [ Recipes ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/topic/olive-oil-recipes) [ Olive Oil for Health ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/topic/olive-oil-for-health) [ Cooking with Olive Oil ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/topic/cooking-with-olive-oil) [ Buying Olive Oil ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/topic/buying-olive-oil) [ Olive Oil Quality ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/topic/olive-oil-quality) ## For more information --- Sign up for our newsletter to receive announcements and alerts about upcoming blogs and information. ![logo-certified](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/logo-certified.svg)The North American Olive Oil Association is committed to supplying North American consumers with quality products in a fair and competitive environment; to fostering a clear understanding of the different grades of olive oil; and to expounding the benefits of olive oil in nutrition, health, and the culinary arts. | © North American Olive Oil Association. All Rights Reserved. [Follow us on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/aboutoliveoil.naooa) [Follow us on Youtube! ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCIGB_KDsBYLLWKuAfmG-3Q) [Follow us on Instagram! ](https://www.instagram.com/about_oliveoil/) [Follow us on Twitter! ](https://twitter.com/about_oliveoil) [Follow us on LinkedIn! ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/naooa/) [ MEMBER LOGIN ](https://my.naooa.org/MIC/login) [Back To Top ](https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food#) ![NAOOA Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1619072324973389&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://analytics.twitter.com/i/adsct?txn_id=nube2&p_id=Twitter&tw_sale_amount=0&tw_order_quantity=0) ![](https://t.co/i/adsct?txn_id=nube2&p_id=Twitter&tw_sale_amount=0&tw_order_quantity=0) ![](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/872458192/?guid=ON&script=0) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "About Olive Oil", "url" : "https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/author/about-olive-oil" }, "datePublished" : "2017-07-06T19:28:00.000Z", "headline" : "How do you pair olive oil with food?", "image" : [ "https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/pairing-olive-oil-with-food.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/how-do-you-pair-olive-oil-with-food", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.aboutoliveoil.org/hubfs/social-suggested-images/www.aboutoliveoil.orghs-fshubfswebsite-logo2.jpg" }, "name" : "North American Olive Oil Association" } } ```