If you’re aiming to enhance your health, we have some healthy cooking oil recommendations for you.
Cooking oil holds significant importance in Indian cuisine, being an integral part of cooking traditions. While commonly used oils like refined, vegetable, clarified butter (ghee), and mustard oil dominate our kitchens, olive oil has recently made its mark amid the surge in healthy lifestyle trends. Yet, there remains a vast array of lesser-known oils that remain undiscovered. Oils such as sesame oil, safflower oil, and linseed oil are not only rare but also highly beneficial. In fact, they surpass olive oil in terms of health benefits and culinary versatility. Embrace these rare cooking oils to infuse a new dimension of flavor and nutritional richness into your traditional dishes.
1. Avocado Oil
2. Sesame Oil
While sesame oil is a familiar ingredient, its role as a cooking oil may be a newfound revelation. Extracted from organically-grown sesame seeds to enhance its nutritional profile, sesame oil is rich in essential minerals such as zinc and copper, vital for human growth and development. Moreover, it offers skin and hair benefits. With its earthy and nutty flavor, sesame oil is particularly suited for Asian cuisine. This healthy oil can be utilized for mild cooking or deep frying, without causing spikes in cholesterol levels like some conventional oil options.
3. Safflower Oil
It’s important not to conflate safflower oil with sunflower oil, as they are distinctly different. Safflower oil is derived from the safflower plant and is ideal for high-temperature cooking, including deep frying. This oil boasts a mild flavor profile, making it versatile for various dishes without overpowering their taste. Notably, safflower oil is regarded as a healthy option for cooking.
4. Groundnut Oil
While it may sound familiar, groundnut oil, also known as peanut oil, is not commonly utilized in cooking despite its potential. With its distinct nutty flavor, groundnut oil is well-suited for high-temperature cooking methods such as deep frying, akin to safflower oil. However, it can also be employed for other culinary purposes to impart a delightful nuttiness to dishes.
5. Flaxseed Oil
Finally, we have flaxseed oil, another addition to our roster of rare and healthy oils. Flaxseed is renowned for its myriad health benefits, and its oil counterpart follows suit. However, it’s important to note that flaxseed oil is not suitable for high-temperature cooking, as heating it would compromise its nutritional integrity. Instead, it shines as a salad dressing oil, adding a boost of nutrition to your greens and dishes. Drizzle some flaxseed oil over your salad or meal to elevate its nutritional value and flavor.