Hot & Spicy Gift Set Recipes

These oils pack a punch! If you know someone who is always looking to add some heat to their meals, this is the perfect gift. Find it in our markets or online at www.sigonas.com. Included in this set are:

  • Spicy Calabrian Pesto Olive Oil
  • Smoky Chipotle Olive Oil
  • Red Harissa Chili Oil
  • Jalapeño Olive Oil

Note that this box used to contain Baklouti Green Chili Oil. Should your box contain Baklouti, the recipe for that oil is at end.

Check out these recipes!

Fresh Herb and Egg Salad on Toast with Sigona’s Calabrian Pepper Pesto Olive Oil
Fresh Herb and Egg Salad on Toast with Sigona’s Calabrian Pepper Pesto Olive Oil

You’ve heard of pesto eggs, but this takes the idea up to a whole new level! Our new Spicy Calabrian Pesto Oil has a little kick from the pepper but is overall bright and flavorful with the basil pesto shining through. Drizzling on this oil as a finisher adds just what’s needed to round out this dish. Adapted from Local Dirt. Serves 2

Fresh Herb and Egg Salad on Toast with Sigona’s Spicy Calabrian Pesto Oil

Ingredients:

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp minced shallot
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 slices of rustic bread or a baguette, sliced on an extreme bias
  • Butter or oil of choice, for brushing
  • 2 large basil leaves, chiffonade
  • 1 Tbsp fresh dill fronds, torn
  • 1 Tbsp roughly chopped fresh parsley
  • Sigona’s Spicy Calabrian Pepper Pesto Olive Oil, for drizzling
  • Coarse salt, for sprinkling

Directions: Bring a small saucepan full of salted water to a boil. Add the eggs and reduce heat just enough so the water remains in an active simmer. Boil eggs for 8 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon and plunk them directly into an ice bath. When cool, peel the eggs and set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, shallot and Dijon. Season to taste with pepper.

Preheat a large skillet or grill pan over high. Lightly brush both sides of the bread with oil or butter and place on the skillet. Toast each side for just one minute so the outside is crisp but the inside remains soft. Allow to cool for about 2 minutes, then spread with the mayonnaise mixture.

Slice the eggs into thin wedges then nestle the wedges into the mayo mixture on top of the bread. Sprinkle each toast with fresh herbs and a light pinch of salt. Drizzle on some of the Calabrian pepper pesto oil and finish with freshly ground pepper. Serve.


Esquites ~ Mexican Street Corn Salad

If you love elotes – and really, who doesn’t – then you’ll love this salad. We use our smoky chipotle oil to add another layer of flavor and a little heat to the dish, too. This is a great side for Taco Tuesday! Serves 4.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp Sigona’s Smoky Chipotle Olive Oil
  • 2 cups of corn (about 3 to 4 ears, cut from the cob)
  • 3 mini sweet peppers, halved, seeded and diced
  • 3 green onions chopped
  • 1 shallot, diced, or 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • Half a jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • 1 Tbsp sour cream or plain yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
  • Juice of one lime
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Half a medium avocado, chopped
  • Crumbled cojita, about 1/2 cup, divided

Directions: Heat the chipotle oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and sauté, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and some pieces are slightly charred. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.

To the same bowl, add the peppers, onions and jalapeño.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayo, lime juice, cumin and black pepper. Stir the dressing into the corn mixture then gently fold in the avocado and half of the cojita.

Transfer to a serving bowl, top with remaining cojita and garnish with cilantro.


Harissa-Seared Halibut with an Heirloom Tomato, Basil & Wine Sauce featuring Sigona's Red Chili Harissa Olive Oil
Red Chili Harissa Oil Seared Halibut with an Heirloom Tomato, Basil & Wine Sauce

Harissa-Seared Halibut with an Heirloom Tomato, Basil & Wine Sauce

Tomato and basil is a classic combination, but we like to spice things up a bit with our red chili harissa oil. This oil has got a kick! See chef’s note if you want to take the heat down a notch. Inspired by Baker by Nature. Serves 4.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large lemon
  • 1/4 cup Sigona’s Red Chili Harissa Oil, divided**
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 basket mini heirloom tomatoes, halved
  • 1/3 cup white wine (or vegetable stock)
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
  • About 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. wild halibut, cut into 4 filets about 6 oz. each
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

**If you’d like to have just a hint of heat from the harissa oil, use 2 Tbsp harissa oil and 2 Tbsp regular Sigona’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. (If you don’t have an oven-proof sauté pan, omit this step and finish cooking the fish on the stovetop.)

Zest the lemon then cut lemon in half.

In a large, oven-proof sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes. Add the wine, juice from half the lemon and chopped basil; allow mixture to come to a gentle boil then turn off the heat. Use a rubber spatula to remove the mixture to a plate or bowl, scraping the pan clean; set tomato mixture aside.

Place the sauté pan back on the stove. Heat the remaining oil over medium. Season both sides of the halibut filets with salt and pepper and place them in the sauté pan. Cook without flipping for 3 to 5 minutes or until the bottom side is golden brown. Carefully flip the filets and then place the sauté pan in the oven. Allow fish to cook in the oven for another 3 to 5 minutes or until cooked through. Remember the pan handle will be hot.

Use an oven mitt to remove the pan from the oven. Pour the tomato mixture over the filets, drizzling the liquid over all the pieces. Squeeze juice from remaining lemon half over filets, garnish the dish with the lemon zest and more basil, serve immediately.


Curried Shrimp with Sigona’s Jalapeño Olive Oil

Recipe courtesy of Veronica Foods.

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp Sigona’s Jalapeño Olive oil (it is spicy, so you can cut it with regular olive oil, if needed)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 to 1 Tbsp curry powder, more or less to taste
  • Fresh minced ginger, to taste
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • About 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 lb medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • To serve: fresh cilantro or basil, cooked rice, lime wedges

Directions: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to soften. Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, curry powder and fresh ginger. Cook, stirring to break up paste, until mixture is smooth and fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add 1 chopped tomato to skillet, cook, stirring, until it begins to release juices. Add 1/4 cup vegetable broth and simmer until tomatoes have slightly broken down, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add one can of coconut milk and the lime juice to skillet; stir to combine and let it simmer until the sauce thickens. Add shrimp, salt and pepper; cook until shrimp are opaque.

Serve hot over basmati rice, garnished with fresh herbs and a wedge of lime, if desired.


ARCHIVED RECIPE: this set used to contain our Baklouti green chili olive oil. If you’re looking for that recipe, you can find it here:

Cheesy Asparagus Popover with Basil-Infused Baklouti Green Chili Oil

Holey Cow Cheese & Asparagus Popover with Spicy Baklouti Oil
Holey Cow Cheese & Asparagus Popover with Basil-infused Baklouti Green Chili Oil

This is a work of art when it comes fresh out of the oven! It’s light and fluffy, yet flavorful and filling. Holey Cow cheese, made locally by Central Coast Creamery, is an excellent melting cheese that has a smooth, creamy texture and a crisp, buttery finish; it adds excellent flavor to this dish! For more layers of flavor, consider adding sautéed bacon and/or onions and bell peppers to add in with the asparagus. Adapted from Food Network. Serves about 6. 

For the oil:

  • 3 Tbsp Sigona’s Baklouti Green Chili Oil (warning, this is HOT! If desired, cut the Baklouti with another of Sigona’s regular olive oils)
  • 1 Tbsp minced fresh basil
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

For the popover:

  • Kosher salt
  • 8 ounces asparagus, ends trimmed
  • Optional: Chopped sautéed bacon or lardons, onions and/or bell peppers
  • 4 to 6 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ cup coarsely shredded Holey Cow cheese, divided
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • 1/2 cup sliced grape tomatoes
  • 1 avocado, sliced

For the oil: In a small bowl, mix together the oil/oils and minced basil. Season with salt and pepper, mix well and set aside to allow the flavors to meld.

For the popover: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place a 10- or 12-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven to heat. Add about 3 inches of water to a medium pot of water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile prepare an ice bath in a medium bowl. When water is boiling, add salt and the asparagus. Parboil the asparagus for 1 to 2 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Use tongs to transfer the asparagus to the ice bath. When chilled, drain and pat dry. Set aside.

Whisk together the eggs and milk in a large bowl until smooth. Slowly whisk in the flour and whisk until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 cup of the Holey Cow cheese.

Use oven mitts to carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Add the butter to the skillet and stir until melted. Arrange the asparagus (and any additional sautéed add-ons) in the bottom of the skillet, season with salt and pepper. Slowly pour the egg mixture over the top of the asparagus then bake the mixture until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Sprinkle the remaining Holey Cow cheese and the Parmigiano Reggiano on top. Carefully return the skillet to the oven to bake another 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted, then use oven mitts to remove the skillet from the oven for the final time.

Top the popover with the tomatoes and avocado, then drizzle the top of the popover with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the basil-infused baklouti oil. Serve immediately with the remaining infused oil on the side.

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