Disclaimer: the folks at Boyajian don’t know me from Adam . . . but I’d love to be a taste tester for them!
Do you have a flavor that beckons to you when you’re browsing through a cookbook or a menu? I do. If I see lemon zest or lime zest, my mouth waters and I explore further. I was reading a cooking article in a magazine several years ago that recommended using pure citrus oil if you’re going to add citrus flavoring – and Boyajian Pure Citrus Oils were recommended as the best. I ordered a sampler pack and have kept them in the door of my fridge ever since. When I got my first order, I read on the back of little green box, “ To appreciate the remarkable intensity of these oils, imagine it takes 44 oranges, 66 lemons and 80 limes to fill a 1 oz bottle of oil. Use sparingly in place of peel or zest.” (I really think there should be exclamation points after those statements) It’s hard to shut me up when I start singing the praises of these magical oils. They’ve been one of my secret ingredients for a long time and I’m finally spilling the beans.
•◊•
The orange oil is useful for baking, but since I don’t bake much, it sat in the fridge for a long time until I figured out another use. Orange Honey Vinaigrette. 
A scant 1/4 teaspoon turns a vinaigrette into an exquisite dressing for a spinach salad. This one is 2 parts EVO oil, 1 part (white) vinegar, honey to taste and a 1/4 tsp orange oil. I added a bit of parsley because I found a winter survivor in my herb garden.
This salad is a simple mix of baby spinach, Texas pecans, dried cranberries and chopped bits of bacon.
•◊•
The Pure Lemon Oil is a favorite. I add a few drops to mayonnaise with a few grates of fresh pepper and use it as a dipping sauce for artichokes. It can also be used for a quick aioli sauce and sometimes I add it to EVO oil to saute veggies. Hands down, one of my favorite uses is in a Waldorf salad. It brightens the flavors so much, it puts a big grin on my face when I taste it.
•◊•
Then there’s that delicious Pure Lime Oil. It’s also incredible mixed with mayo or EVO oil, but it has a ton of other uses. A dab stirred into margaritas or Mojitos gives them a zesty citrus punch. One of my favorite ways to use it is in homemade hot sauce and it rocks in fresh salsa. I make one with fresh corn, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and peppers in the summer and it never lasts long. Goooooood stuff. 
One last thing . . . both times I ordered from Boyajian, they added a complimentary product sample. Check out their site and some of their other oils and vinegars. Delicious!
I’m okay with citrus flavors in drinks (adult and otherwise), but I don’t like them in food. Not a sophisticated enough palette I guess.
Citrus isn’t for everybody – differences in taste are unique to everybody! Thanks for stopping by, Russ.
Great info Vickie on both the oils and ways to use them. I’ll have to check them out. You may not be able to get your garden started as early as me, but in August, when it’s 95* and 90% humidity here, I’ll be wishing I was hanging around Flathead Lake.
I hear you on the August business – we get the occasional 95, but the humidity is low and the nights are cool. Do check out the website – their products are outstanding.
LOL, love the disclaimer at the top. If they call you, you better take me with!
I am so, so, so, so, so, SO glad you posted this. I pictured myself with an endless string of emails with you, trying to extract information on how to use these wonderful oils. I’m going to try that honey vinaigrette today. How much honey do you put? 1 t? 2 T? Please give me a range to start. I’m just thrilled to death to own these oils and can’t wait to try them. I haven’t had time yet to head over to their site, but will this morning. Great photos Vic.
Well, I didn’t want to sound like an infomercial even though I could do one for this product. I’ll include you if they call.
I’m thrilled you like them. I want to try their vinegars, too. On the honey, start small (a teaspoon-ish amount) and add to taste. I don’t like it overly sweet. Enjoy! And you MUST share your creations with me.
Went back to read the vinaigrette again and just noticed that those bottles seem to be completely full…. did you use mine as models before shipping them off??? If so, gosh, they’re famous.
The vinaigrette sounds just wonderful! I’m so glad when I hear about a product through someone who touts their praises just because they’ve used them and recommend them. I’m off to their site to take a look (and probably buy LOL). Well, here it is April 17 and I woke up to snow on the ground this morning. It’s still coming down – not hard but, really… enough is enough!
I feel your pain, Sistah! It’s snowing on my newly emerged arugula while I anxiously watch the thermometer to see if I should cover stuff up. grrrrr
If you check out thier site you should try one of their little sample packs, Karen. When it’s blizzarding outside and you need a little zest for recipe, it’s the PERFECT thing. Thanks for coming by!
I was just getting ready to close this out when I noticed that beautiful glass pitcher holding the vinaigrette. And, the next bowl with the baby spinach and Texas pecans. Beautiful.
Those bowls are a very recent gift from my daughter. Aren’t they beautiful?
I bet this would rock in a fajita marinade (the lime oil).
Another great idea. Thanks, Chris!
what cool products – I will keep an eye out for them – thanks.
I’m sure you can find them at a specialty shop – I have to rely on the interwebs out here in BFE.
I can sort of smell it from here…like an updraft of potpourri.
You’ve sold me.
Well I wasn’t exactly trying to sell the product, just trying to turn others on to a great find. They are good enough to “put it out there.”
Vickie,
This is bogging at it’s best.
Real information based on real experience from a real person.
Thanks,
neal
Thanks, Neal! The orange oil would be amazing in one of your truffles.
Vickie,
These oils sound really good. I checked out the Boyajian Mini Citrus Oil sample pack you spoke of and found them. At the Boyajian site, they are $10 and $6.75 for shipping to Bigfork. Then I went to Amazon and they are offering 3 sets of Boyajian Mini Citrus Oil Boxes (lemon, orange, and lime) for $25 (free shipping). Is anyone interested in going in on this with me? It would cost $8.67 for each set. Let me know if anyone is interested and I will do the ordering. Can we use your blog to communicate, Vickie?
BTW thanks for a great tip! I can’t wait to use these little gems!
Reni
Hi Reni! You’re going to love them. I was going to try their wasabi oil and chili oil and would be happy to add a sample pack for you. The freight charge is the same, so it would only cost you $10. Let me know. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these oils.
Ms V,
Have you ever blogged the perfect poached egg?
I need help.
n
I have not and I’m still questing for perfection every Saturday after yoga. There are tons of techniques and videos on the internet.
Wow that’s cool. So many times I wanted/needed a splash of citrus juice but no fresh fruits. This is a great alternative.
This replaces zest like you wouldn’t beleive . . . especially handy when you live in BFE like I do.
Ooooo, ahhhh! These sound wonderful! I think I might just have to check these out for myself. I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend Vickie!
How nice to see your comment, Martha! These oils are fab.u.lous . . . they last forever in the fridge and taste so good. I find myself using them all the time.
Have a great Easter, too, Martha!
I really like your ideas for using these oils in everyday cooking. I haven’t tried the orange or lime oils, but when I was in grad school, I used to attract study partners with a poundcake made with their lemon oil: http://www.boyajianinc.com/recipes/lemonpound.html. Funny that I can’t remember worrying, back then, about making a recipe that uses almost a pound of butter and 6 eggs!
Yum – that poundcake sounds sinfully good – and sinful is probably very apt for a recipe with that much butter.
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I’m a late comer on these, I know. Just used the orange for the dressing for my spinach, strawberry & goat cheese, salad with toasted walnuts. Absolutely wonderful. A wonderful orange flavor, much better than using fresh orange juice. Thanks. BKJ
That sounds delicious! I like to add a bit of honey to the orange – and I am going to taste it with chevre and toasted walnuts on my next salad. Great idea!