BAKING

PISTACHIO OLIVE OIL BROWNIES…Tried, tested & true!

2008/07/19 / 32 Comments
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.”
La Rochefoucauld

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Pistachio Olive Oil Brownies…the healthy choice & TRUE!!

I made these yummy brownies & I made them with olive oil!! Believe it or not…they were scrumptious. If you are looking for butter laden, rich, dense brownies then these are not for you. But, if indulgence & counting calories are your kind of conflicting inclination, then these are right up your alley!!
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Was surfing the net a few days ago & found this very interesting sounding brownie recipe…interesting because they were brownies made with olive oil accompanied by a stunning picture by Sabra @ Cookbook Catchall. The recipe that comes from Faith Heller Willinger’s new cookbook, Adventures of an Italian Food Lover is a twist on the traditional brownie in butter terms. The original recipe has a fruity olive oil which I didn’t have, but we loved how these turned out, & I was glad to be able to offer the kids a healthy brownie option.
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I tried to make them healthier by adding some oats to the recipe & was worried that disaster might strike. They turned out just great & are are a lovely, healthy brownie option, specially for dessert. It was actually quite intriguing to learn that you can turn out olive oil brownies that taste so good!! My other alteration to the recipe was the use of pistachio nuts, my favourite pairing with chocolate in taste & visual appeal. The brownies had a semi-dry cracked surface & were moist within. I thought they were beautiful.

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Equal Opportunity Kitchen is running a second round of their very successful first event Tried, Tested & True. The lovely ladies wanted to provide a forum for recipe sharing that people could go to when they needed something that was already proven, that wouldn’t fail and would shamelessly make them look great. TTT2ribbonTake 2 is on now, but with a slight difference; it’s calling for health-promoting tried, tested and true recipes. This time, they’re attaching a cause of importance to them, organ donation. “Just think about a submission that’s healthy and tastes good – that you would feed to someone you love knowing that you were promoting good, healthy eating.” This is absolutely great; I think there couldn’t be a better way to promote & spread the message. You’ve got until Monday, July 21st (EST) to rush in your entries. Also, do do stop by & read a wonderfully inspiring story at Ann’s @ Redacted Recipes. It’s heart-warming & beautiful.
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Onto the recipe now as adapted from Sabra @ Cookbook Catchall
Ingredients:
Dark / bitter chocolate – 100gms (broken into pieces & melt in microwave)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 1/3 cup
Flour – 1/2 cup
Rolled Oats – 1/4 cup
Sea salt – 1/4 teaspoon
Eggs – 2 large; at room temperature
Caster sugar – 2/3 cup
Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
Pistachio nuts – 2/3 cup; chopped (save some to sprinkle on top if you like)

collageMethod:

  • Preheat the oven to 175C. Line an 8-inch (20cm) square baking pan with a lightly oiled and floured piece of parchment paper that overhangs the pan on two sides (this aids in removal later).
  • Whisk the oil into the melted chocolate. Leave to cool.
  • Whisk together the flour + oats + salt together in a bowl.
  • In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until pale, thickened and billowy, about five minutes. Fold in the vanilla and the cooled chocolate mixture, then fold in the flour and optional nuts, stirring just until everything is combined. Pour into the prepared pan and distribute evenly.
  • Bake for 22-26 minutes (note from the Traveler’s Lunchbox: I would recommend checking earlier to avoid over-baking – mine were just on the verge after 22 minutes). The top will be dry and crackly, though a toothpick inserted in the center should emerge still a little wet.
  • Cool completely, then cut into squares. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

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    Served with a cuppa coffee…bliss!!

Posted by Deeba @ PAB

About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.

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32 Comments

  • giz

    2008/07/19 at 6:35 pm Reply

    What a great way to alter a recipe that’s generally considered sinful and still make it beautiful and tasty. What a wonderful submission to Tried Tested and True Two. Thank you so much.

  • Manggy

    2008/07/19 at 6:50 pm Reply

    Good thinking with the oats! The brownies look very moreish! And kind of decadent with the olive oil, haha 🙂 (not that butter is any cheaper….)

  • Ivy

    2008/07/19 at 7:54 pm Reply

    Deeba these sound wonderful. I make desserts with olive oil quite frequently and yes they are very tasty and healthy BUT bear in mind that olive oil is still a fat and it has MANY calories. I posted the meme if you want to check it out.

  • Zaara

    2008/07/19 at 9:28 pm Reply

    How delectable! I stumbled across your blog (via Cooksister, I think) and I’m so amazed at the range of dishes you have cooked up. I wish I could bake a tenth as much as you!!!
    I’m truly in awe, and as an NRI, I’m amazed at the ingenuity you show in substituting ingredients, and ploughing along, whereas at the slightest indication that I don’t have a necessary ingredient -I throw my hands in the air and retire to the couch….and watch food network TV and drool at other people’s food!
    I’ve promptly put you on feeder and i really hope I can try some of the great recipes you have posted…cheers!

  • Divya

    2008/07/20 at 3:50 am Reply

    Yummy brownies..perfect alternative to butter and oil laden ones..would love to have a bite of those olive oil+oats brownies..!!

  • Nags

    2008/07/20 at 1:51 pm Reply

    that looks so lovely, especially the crust!! and you are right about the olive oil part. cant wait to try it!

  • skrockodile (sabra)

    2008/07/20 at 9:24 pm Reply

    So glad these worked out for your – warms my heart to have added to your repertoire! Great that your tweaks worked out well – great ideas.
    Best,
    Sabra

  • Mike of Mike's Table

    2008/07/21 at 3:35 am Reply

    I was skeptical from the title about olive oil brownies, but I’m very glad to hear they worked out. I’m a butter fiend, but who knows, maybe once I get my cholesterol checked soon, I might be singing a different tune. These brownies look great!

  • toontz

    2008/07/21 at 5:51 pm Reply

    I have used light olive oil for baking, but never extra-virgin olive oil. I will have to bookmark this recipe to try, it sounds delicious (especially with the pistachios)! I admit, I have never had a brownie I didn’t like.

  • Proud Italian Cook

    2008/07/22 at 4:03 am Reply

    Bliss is right Deeba! I would have a cuppa with you anytime. BTW, what beautiful offspring you have above!!

  • FoodyGuru (Srimathi)

    2008/07/22 at 6:59 pm Reply

    I am so glad that you posted this one. I love baking and I dont do as much because its all butter and sugar in the end and every one is turning to healthy goodies these days and refuse anything that is high in fat.Thank you so much.

  • familiabencomo

    2008/07/23 at 2:12 pm Reply

    YUMM!!!! I should make these for the teachers on the first day of school. I can give it to them with a gift card from Starbucks. I always like to start the school year with something special. These are perfect because thy appeal to an adult pallet as well as that evil, little, sweet tooth we have. Well done!

    Tanti baci, bella,
    Amy

  • Latha

    2008/07/23 at 8:04 pm Reply

    deeba, you have made me crazy about pistas too! last week i bought way too much than i usually do. this is too sinful not to try. will give a feedback soon:)

  • michelle of bleeding espresso

    2008/07/26 at 9:15 am Reply

    Came via Photograzing, and I have to say that a tray of these wouldn’t last very long in my hands. YUM! Love the addition of pistachios especially 🙂

    I’ve baked a cake with olive oil, btw, and it came out wonderfully (although I do recommend adding lemon juice and more zest than the recipe calls for):

    Olive Oil & Limoncello Cake

    Lovely blog you have here!

  • shivani

    2008/07/26 at 11:41 am Reply

    hi Debba
    I have been visiting ur blog fr sometime now. Toooo good. I also like to bake n cook. But I live in Shimla and find it hard to find all the ingredients for baking like chocolate and cream. Are these things easily available in Gurgaon. Could u please tell me the name and loation of shop(s) where you get these things n i might get these things next time i visit Gurgaon.
    I have been eyeing kitchen aid mixers at ebay and would love to get one. Do u have any such mixer. If yes, would u tell me which one. Can we chat online sometime. i would love to know you and would appreiate any help you could offer regarding baking/cooking.

  • Nidhi

    2008/08/08 at 5:20 pm Reply

    Hey! Hearty congratulations for winning in the tried & Tested contest Deeba! You deserve it!

  • Rajani

    2008/08/08 at 5:48 pm Reply

    hi deeba! congratulations on ur winning entry. My first time to your blog, (i think)… love the brownies, and I certainly ‘am the ‘conflicting inclination’ sort, so will be trying out the brownies soon!

  • Johanna

    2009/07/20 at 2:25 am Reply

    mmmm… I would love one of these in my lunchbox – what a great recipe – have bookmarked to try!

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