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cold-pressed rapeseed oil

29 December 2010 by Dominic Franks

… it was with a sense of smug delight when I read in the new Nigella book ‘Kitchen’ that she would recommend using British grown cold-pressed rapeseed oil almost exclusively instead of extra-virgin olive oil… smug, because the stuff grows outside our front door for most of the summer… and delighted because, as she says in her book, it’s about time we, the Brits, could be proud and feel culinarily superior about something so simple as oil…

… it has a wonderfully nutty and mustardy flavour and as you can see a glorious yellow gold colour… still quite rare to find in the shops but AMAZINGLY our local co-operative stocks it as part of their ‘grown locally’ range… so I’m doubly smug!..

… I would personally recommend the Heart of Gold brand as it’s produced in Lincolnshire and really is a superior oil… but I’m sure rapeseed oil is produced all over the UK… we just have to get out there and start using it, asking for it at the supermarket and talking about it…

… and now, at the end of the summer, when the rapeseed plants are emitting their rotten, cabbage-like perfume, I can lift my head and proudly say… ‘that is the smell of glorious gold oil my dear friends… just ask Nigella!’

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Filed Under: Everything else Tagged With: rape seed oil

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Comments

  1. My Farmhouse Kitchen says

    29 December 2010 at 5:21 pm

    … never heard of it…but love the idea of it. i need to check out her new cookbook…i love her.

    she is a great cook….fun to watch on t.v.

    sending Happy New Year Wishes to you, my friend.

    kary and teddy
    xxx

  2. Chele says

    29 December 2010 at 5:25 pm

    I am in total agreement with both you and Nigella! I haven't purchased a bottle of olive oil in about a year and a half, opting instead for a locally produced rapeseed oil with a lovely hazelnut tang to it. Won't be going back to olive oil any time soon ;0)

  3. From Beyond My Kitchen Window says

    29 December 2010 at 7:22 pm

    Sounds interesting. Does it have the same health benefits as EVOO? I'll have to be on the lookout for this oil.

  4. Magic Cochin says

    29 December 2010 at 8:02 pm

    I'm pleased you've discovered cold-pressed rape seed oil – it's great stuff! I had no idea Nigella had been spreading the word.

    As a true bred Fen Tiger, I buy oil by http://www.laemunns.com

    Celia

  5. http://thespicegarden.blogspot.com says

    29 December 2010 at 10:31 pm

    I remember wondering what those vast fields of gold were when I toured Somerset several years ago … such a beautiful plant! Good to see it becomes something healthy and worthy of Nigella's adoration!

  6. Please Do Not Feed The Animals. says

    29 December 2010 at 10:35 pm

    I absolutely adore the fields of rape all around here – they never fail to make me smile. So I am completely ashamed to say I haven't actually tried the oil. Will do so as soon as possible.

  7. Victoria says

    29 December 2010 at 10:50 pm

    if i were you i would totally be smug too!! I use rapeseed when i can get it, and prefer it…something about the taste…and the fact that i think it is like canola oil…which is what we canadians use…here in the UK I am happy to get it when i can!!! smug smug smug!

  8. Michael Toa says

    29 December 2010 at 11:13 pm

    I never tried rapeseed oil but I am very interested to give it a go. I'll have a look around local stores here. 🙂

  9. Josie says

    30 December 2010 at 3:42 am

    hhhmmm I've never heard of it?? I wonder if I could even find it in the states lol? I may have to google it! I love Nigella : )

  10. Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes says

    30 December 2010 at 6:38 am

    I'm not familiar with this oil, but I'll keep an eye out for it in my local market! Thanks for the tip!

    Mary

  11. Dom at Belleau Kitchen says

    30 December 2010 at 7:01 am

    Isn't it great to find new products? Be warned though as Nigella says if you google it they will tell you it's US equivalent is canola oil but she says that this is an inferior product and shouldn't be substituted for the cold pressed rapeseed oil. V interesting x

  12. Charlene says

    30 December 2010 at 8:55 am

    I like using rapseed oil too. Sainsbury's stock one kind, but it isn't extra virgin. I try and pick mine up from delis and farm shops.

  13. Brownieville Girl says

    30 December 2010 at 10:53 am

    It is amazing that such a smelly plant can produce such delicioius oil – although I have to admit that I haven't been totally won over from EVOO.

  14. Choclette says

    30 December 2010 at 6:24 pm

    I've recently brought our Cornish brand, but keep forgetting to use it – sigh!

  15. Liz says

    11 January 2011 at 10:02 pm

    and if you like me have one parent from East Yorkshire:
    and one from Lincolnshire….

    http://www.goldfromthewold.co.uk/healthy.html

    xLiz

  16. Sarah, Maison Cupcake says

    18 January 2011 at 12:32 am

    I bought some rapeseed oil (Cotswold Gold) at Taste Christmas after being seriously impressed with the taste. It's different to olive oil but got just an interesting flavour. Not opened mine yet, I must.

  17. Jo Giles says

    20 January 2011 at 1:22 pm

    Hello – I work for Farrington Oils. We produce MELLOW YELLOW (Nigella's personal choice!) – I am thrilled that there is such excitement over the discovery of the lovely taste, fabulous versatility and numerous health benefits of cold-pressed rapeseed oil. We are Britain's original “seed to bottle” producer and are unique in being a LEAF marque producer. (Linking the Environment And Farming) Sales pitch aside – I just wanted to clarify the comment about some brands not being “extra virgin”. Please don't be misled! We could call our oil 'virgin' in that it is producer from a first cold pressing, unlike commodity oils which are highly processed at high temperatures, often with the use of chemicals and then bleached. “Extra Virgin” in a term that should really only be applied to olive oil given that the oil has to fufill a number of criteria, one of which is a taste test. None of these producers can justify anything in their oil production to make it “extra” virgin. We celebrate the difference between our oil and EVOs because it is great in it's own right – it contains half the saturated fat for starters. We made the decision to be straightforward in our labelling and the most important term to look out for is “cold-pressed”.

  18. Dom at Belleau Kitchen says

    20 January 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Hey Jo thanks for the clarification (and mini advert)… all good to know.

    If you fancy sending me a bottle to try I'd be more than happy to review it for you…

  19. Dom at Belleau Kitchen says

    20 January 2011 at 3:16 pm

    Hey Jo thanks for the clarification (and mini advert)… all good to know.

    If you fancy sending me a bottle to try I'd be more than happy to review it for you…

  20. janmccourt says

    27 January 2011 at 8:56 am

    Interesting post. May I make a plea for Farm Shops & Independent retailers as a source of great products like Heart of Gold?
    Many Thanks
    Jan McCourt
    Northfield Farm Shop
    http://www.northfieldfarm.com

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About Dom In The Kitchen

My name is Dominic, I am a cook, food writer and creative event producer. I write the food blog Dom In The Kitchen and also write a monthly recipe column for Lincolnshire Life Magazine and Good Taste Magazine. I also run creative event production company The Persuaders, producing global events for brands since 1997. I am based both in the small village of Belleau in Lincolnshire and the smaller village of London! Read More…

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