Spice Up Your Summer Recipes With These Essential Oils

Getting tired of your same old flavors, but itching to try something new?  I know that if I want to prevent monotony and burnout, I need variety and pizzazz in my life!  I have once heard it said that each day we ought to have something to look forward to.

One way to help your daily cooking routine become more of a joy is by spicing them up with essential oils!  Essential oils are beneficial because they are much more potent and flavorful than their herbal counterparts and have a longer shelf life.  But before we delve into some tantalizingly spicy and citrusy essential oil recipes, it’s important to understand how to safely and effectively integrate essential oils into your cooking.

SAFETY OF CONSUMING ESSENTIAL OILS

There is a lot of debate out there about the internal use of essential oils, but cooking with the oils, especially when applying heat, alters their chemical composition.  Usually, this means their therapeutic qualities are removed due to oxidation, leaving behind the potent and powerful flavor.  I usually add the essential oils to the end of my recipes to help them to retain some of their properties, but we are mainly using the EOs here for flavor and not for health benefits.  Even so, it is still very important to use pure, high-quality essential oils rather than synthetics found on your grocery store shelves in the form of flavors and additives.  doTERRA is the only brand that I personally consume internally.

BENEFITS OVER HERBS

Even though heat makes the essential oils less potent, they are still 50-70 percent more potent than their herbal counterparts.  Remember that 1 drop of pure Peppermint essential oil is the same as 28 glasses of peppermint tea!  (Try adding one drop of Peppermint to a batch of brownies for incredible mint-chocolate deliciousness!)  For that reason, it is important to go with the less-is-more rule when adding oils, and always, always, always taste!  Some oils are so potent that they require only a toothpick dipped in the oil and swirled in your food rather than an entire drop (like rosemary and oregano), so be sure to read instructions carefully or err on the side of your palate when it comes to flavor profiles.  Let’s also not forget that they will save you money in the long run due to their extended shelf life and the tiny bit required to greatly enhance the flavor of your recipes.  So, let’s get started on our flavor adventure!

CRISPY FISH TACOS WITH HONEY CITRUS COLESLAW

Ready for a fun and delicious new spin on street tacos?  You will love this fresh, crisp and flavorful dish!

Ingredients (for the tilapia):
1½ tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. organic raw honey
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. salt
1 drop Cumin essential oil
1 drop Lime essential oil
¼ tsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. black pepper
1 pound tilapia fillets
1 Tbsp. pure extra-virgin olive oil
Warm corn tortillas for serving

Ingredients for the Coleslaw:
1 cup thinly sliced green cabbage
1 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
1 thinly sliced bell pepper (choose your color)
½ cup sliced green onions
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 Tbsp. organic raw honey
1 small clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. pure extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 toothpick Cumin essential oil
1 drop Lemon essential oil

Directions for the fish (A white fish like Cod, Mahi Mahi, or Sea Bass will work great):
Mix paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, Cumin essential oil, Lime essential oil, chili powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle mixture over both sides of tilapia fillets. Heat olive oil over medium-high in a large pan or skillet. Place seasoned tilapia in the pan, and gently cook for 3-5 minutes on both sides, or until flaky.

Directions for the Coleslaw:
Mix cabbage, carrots, peppers, cilantro, and onions together in a large bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine and stir lime juice, honey, minced garlic, olive oil, one toothpick (dip and swirl) of Cumin essential oil, and one drop Lemon essential oil. Carefully pour the dressing over tossed vegetables and stir well. Spoon coleslaw along with tilapia into warm tortillas and enjoy!

SPICY CUCUMBER & AVOCADO SALAD

Spice up your cucumber salad with the exotic flavors of Cardamom and Marjoram. This tasty salad will boost your energy and load your body with vitamins and nutrients thanks to the fresh avocado, onions, and tomatoes!

Ingredients:
1 whole avocado, diced
1 tomato, diced
½ red onion, sliced
½ English cucumber, diced
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. lemon juice, fresh squeezed
1 toothpick Marjoram essential oil
1 toothpick Cardamom essential oil
1 drop Lime essential oil

Directions:
Place avocado, tomato, red onion, and cucumber in a bowl. Drizzle olive oil over vegetables. Mix in 1 toothpick (dip and swirl) of Marjoram and Cardamom essential oil, and drop of Lime essential oil. Taste and add more toothpicks as needed to please your palate.  If needed, drizzle lemon juice over salad and season with a bit of salt. Stir gently and eat right away!

Essential oils will do wonders to enhance the flavors of your cooking and baking, especially with spicy and citrusy summer essential oils!  By incorporating them into these incredibly tasty recipes you are sure to become more confident and adventurous with essential oils as you prepare your weekly healthy meals.  Don’t be afraid to experiment with essential oils by adding them to your usual year-round recipes, or try substituting EOs for herbs in new recipes!  Always remember to taste as you go!  Enjoy, and spice it up!

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