DIY Herb-Infused Olive Oils
By: Audrey Shiu
Published: Thursday, January 21, 2016 - 4:13pm

Ingredients




2 16oz glass bottles (*a green tinted bottle will help keep the oil from exposure to light. I got mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond)
2 x 2 1/4 cups olive oil
2 Funnels
1 Saucepan
a small knife for peeling lemon skin
If you don’t already have these, you might want to consider flip top pourers because they’ll help prevent bacteria and particles from entering the bottle. I ordered mine from Amazon

Preparation

1 Before preparing any ingredients, you’ll need to sterilise your bottles and pourer tops. There are several ways to do this: 1) boiling your bottles in hot water, 2) using the dishwasher on high heat or 3) placing them in the oven. Since the bottles are tall and skinny I chose the oven method. First, heat oven to 225ºF. Then wash the bottles and pourers with soap and hot water. Place the bottles onto cooking paper into the oven to dry for about 20 minutes. For the tops, either let them air dry or use the dishwasher to sterilise them even more. You can’t put these in the oven or into boiling water because the plastic stoppers will met! Leave the bottles in the oven until you’re ready to fill them up. 2 Chilli Oil: 3 Heat a saucepan on low fire and add the dried chilis, seeds and flakes. Constantly shake the pan to avoid burning the spices. When you start to smell the aroma, it’s time to take it off the fire and transfer to a plate. 4 Add 2 cups of olive oil to the same saucepan on low heat. When little bubbles start forming turn the heat off and set aside to cool. 5 Transfer the chilis to the bottle – you may need a chopstick or stick to help push them in. 6 When the oil is cooled, transfer it to the bottle using the funnel, first pouring in 2 cups and then adding more to fill an inch away from the top. Keep in mind that you’re dealing with chilis here and you want to use separate equipment if you’re preparing another non-spicy oil. 7 Insert the top. 8 Storage – Dry herb oils can generally store longer than fresh ingredients. Store it in a cool, dark place to use within 3 months. 9 Lemon Oil: 10 It’s a good idea to use organic/pesticide-free lemons, especially since the skin is being used and is being stored for several weeks. Wash the lemons and let them air dry completely. 11 Use a small knife to lightly peel the skin away from the surface while omitting the white pith. 12 These peels need to air dry overnight on a paper towel to make sure as little moisture gets exposed to the oil as possible. 13 When they’re ready, transfer the peels into the bottle and pour 2 cups of olive oil in gradually through a funnel. 14 Insert the top. 15 You may notice that the oil starts to become cloudy. This is because the oil isn’t filtered and it’s completely normal due to the home made process. If the oil is clear and begins to cloud up after a few days, it may be a sign that it’s exposed to bacteria and to avoid any risks, it should be thrown out. 16 Storage – store in the fridge and use within 1 month. If you see signs of moulding, it should be thrown out.

About

Today, I decided to try out DIY herb-infused olive oil in 2 ways, using dry and wet ingredients which have slightly different preparation methods –> Dry herbs can be heated on a saucepan for it to release its natural oils, before being added to oil. Wet ingredients like citrus peels and fresh herbs, need to be thoroughly rinsed and air-dried overnight before being added to oil.
They make great gifts (just tie a ribbon to it and add a little message) and if you decide to keep em’ they’re great for spicing up salads, dips and stir-fries. And if you’re like me, you’ll think it’s a fun and creative way to spend your time and definitely a way to share during this festive season!