Caramel has been a classic in the world of desserts for a long time. Whether you’re talking about your standard sugar-water mixture or the even more delicious butter version, they are the perfect way to enhance any ice cream, cake or anything else, really. Yet recently, another variant of caramel has been circulating on TikTok: olive oil caramel sauce.
It may seem strange to combine the words ‘olive oil’ and ‘caramel’ within the same sentence and yet, it works. Combined with maple syrup and a pinch of salt, olive oil turns out to be an all-round success. People seem to like it not only as a way of enhancing their desserts or breakfasts but, thanks to the olive oil, it also works as a somewhat sweet salad dressing or as a marinade for your (barbecue) meat. And as the recipe doesn’t include any dairy or other animal-derived products, even vegans will be able to enjoy it on their dessert.
Contrary to other recipes, you don’t need a pan or heat source to make the olive oil caramel, making it an ideal alternative when cooking with kids or when you’re on holiday and you don’t have a full kitchen at your disposal. With just two (or three) ingredients, it’s easy to put together and to remember for any sauce-related emergencies.
As goes for everything: the quality of your ingredients will greatly impact your final result. Choosing the best, cold pressed olive oil is therefore key – which might be something to look out for during your next holidays in the Mediterranean. The same goes for the maple syrup: only use the real deal and don’t settle for any ‘maple-flavoured’ knock-offs.
Recipe
1. Ingredients
- 1 part olive oil
- 1 part maple syrup (the colder, the better)
- A pinch of salt
2. Method
- Combine the olive oil and the syrup in a mixing bowl.
- Whisk the two ingredients together with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Take your time and make sure you obtain a homogenous result.
- Add in a pinch of salt if you wish, which helps to balance out the sweetness of the maple syrup.
