GREAT STORECUPBOARD FINDS No. 8

Farrington's Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil

Drive through the countryside in the late spring/early summer, and you will see field after field of vivid yellow flowers. This is rapeseed (Brassica napus), also known as oilseed rape. It's been a feature of our countryside, and agricultural production, for many years now, and the harvested oil is used for biodiesel, and for human consumption, in the form of rapeseed oil.

My mother-in-law, who shares my inquisitive mind and taste buds where food is concerned, introduced me to Farrington's Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil. It is a beautiful saffron-yellow oil with a pleasantly nutty flavour, not overpowering. It can be used in dressings, or drizzled on bread, just like olive oil, and its high smoke point (around 220C) makes it ideal for stir-frying and roasting. Farrington's rapeseed oil is produced in the same way as superior-quality olive oil, by cold-pressing, which ensures the full flavour and essence of the oil is preserved. As well as being delicious, it is also packed with Omega 3, 6 and 9 oils, and is low in saturated fat. Personally, its nutritional benefits are by-the-by for me: I love its flavour and if I don't have any olive oil to hand, rapeseed oil is a great alternative. Go on - try it!

Recipes and further information here

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