Sparacinobio

L'olio biologico dalla terra alla tua tavola / The organic olive oil from our land to your table

Sicilia, Italia

basilico, olio d'oliva e limone / basil leaves, olive oil and lemon

Properties and recipes

Olive oil is a relief for our health.

It is a monounsaturated fat composed almost entirely of triglycerides; it is one of the richest sources of oleic acid (around 66%), the most abundant of the long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids found in our bodies, with excellent nourishing and emollient properties for the skin. Further, olive oil contains around 15% linoleic acid, 15% palmitic acid and 2% stearic acid.

olio d'oliva e oliva verde / olive oil and green olive

Properties of olive oil

It is good for cardiovascular health.

Effect of olive oil consumption on cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Exploring the Cardiovascular Benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Insights into Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil

Oleocanthal, a Phenolic Derived from Virgin Olive Oil: A Review of the Beneficial Effects on Inflammatory Disease

It protects the gut microbiome.

Extra-virgin olive oil and the gut-brain axis: influence on gut microbiota, mucosal immunity, and cardiometabolic and cognitive health

Effects of Olive Oil and Its Minor Components on Cardiovascular Diseases, Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota

It protects the skin from the ageing process.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Polyphenols: Modulation of Cellular Pathways Related to Oxidant Species and Inflammation in Aging

Olive Oil: Antioxidant Compounds and Their Potential Effects over Health

It helps against decalcification, osteoporosis and fractures.

Olives and Bone: A Green Osteoporosis Prevention Option

Extra virgin olive oil consumption reduces the risk of osteoporotic fractures in the PREDIMED trial

Olive oil: a thousand uses

bruschette al pomodoro / bruschette with tomatoes

sapone fatto in casa all'olio d'oliva / homemade olive oil soap

For skin and hair care

Dining with flavour

Body soaps

To really appreciate a good extra virgin olive oil, use it raw: when drizzled over a finished dish, it reveals its full character.

Olive oil is the oldest and most effective cosmetic in the Mediterranean. When applied to the skin, it deeply nourishes and protects it thanks to its vitamin E and polyphenols. When used on the hair, it leaves it soft and shiny and helps combat a dry scalp.

Extra virgin olive oil has been nourishing the skin for thousands of years.

Rich in vitamin E, polyphenols and fatty acids, it is one of the most valuable ingredients for natural body care.

Dining with flavour

Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes

Toasted bread, ripe tomatoes and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Difficulty Very easy

Price Very cheap

Preparation time 15 minutes

Ingredients

4 slices of homemade bread
4 ripe tomatoes
1 clove of garlic (you can add more, if you like it)
Sparacino organic extra virgin olive oil (the more, the better)
fresh basil leaves, as needed (if you like it, be generous)
sea salt, as needed
black pepper, as needed

Procedure

Prepare the tomatoes: dice the tomatoes. Place them in a bowl, add salt and leave to stand for 10 minutes so that they release their juices.
Toast the bread: toast the bread on the grill or in the oven at 200°C for 5 minutes, until it is golden and crispy on the outside but still soft on the inside.
Rub the garlic: whilst the bread is still warm, rub the surface vigorously with the garlic clove, cut in half.
Season: spread the tomatoes over the slices. Add black pepper and drizzle a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil over each bruschetta.
Finish and serve: tear the fresh basil leaves by hand and scatter them over each bruschetta. Serve immediately, before the bread goes soft. Enjoy :)

Spaghetti with pesto

A must-try during summer: fresh, spicy and Mediterranean.

Difficulty Very easy

Price Very cheap

Preparation time 15 minutes

Cooking time 10 minutes

Ingredients (for 4 people)

For the pasta

320 g of spaghetti
water, as needed
salt, as needed

For the pesto

80 g of fresh basil leaves
40 g of almonds, pine nuts or walnuts (you can also mix together)
2 cloves of garlic (or more, if you prefer)
Sparacino organic extra virgin olive oil (the more, the better)
a pinch of salt (taste and adjust)
40 g of grated parmesan (if you like it)
a few cherry tomatoes

Procedure

The basil: wash the basil leaves thoroughly and pat them dry.
The cherry tomatoes: wash the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half.
Blending: place all the ingredients in a blender. If desired, add the grated parmesan. Blend until you obtain a smooth and creamy sauce. If the pesto is too thick, add a tablespoon of olive oil or more cherry tomatoes.
Cook the pasta: in the meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti.
Finish and serve: drain the spaghetti when al dente. Stir them in the pesto and mix well. Serve immediately. If desired, garnish with fresh basil leaves and a sprinkle of grated cheese. Enjoy :)

Grilled vegetables marinated in flavoured oil

A dish that can be prepared in advance and improves with time.

Price Very cheap

Difficulty Very easy

Cooking time 10 minutes

Preparation time 15 minutes

Ingredients (for 4 people)

2 courgettes
2 eggplants
2 red and yellow peppers
1 large red onion
Sparacino organic extra virgin olive oil (the more, the better)
2 cloves of garlic
fresh thyme (add as you prefer)
rosemary (add as you prefer)
crumbled dried chilli (add as you prefer)
1 teaspoon of sea salt (taste and adjust)

Procedure

Chop the vegetables: cut the courgettes and aggplants into 1 cm-thick slices lengthways. Cut the red and yellow peppers into wide strips, removing the seeds. Slice the red onion into thick rings.
Grill the vegetables: heat a grill or griddle pan over a high heat. Grill the vegetables for a few minutes on each side until they develop grill marks and the flesh is tender. Lightly season each layer with salt.
Prepare the flavoured oil: mix the extra virgin olive oil in a bowl with the crushed garlic cloves, the thyme, the rosemary and the chilli.
Marinate the vegetables: in an ovenproof dish or jar, arrange the grilled vegetables in layers. Pour the flavoured oil over each layer, ensuring all the vegetables are well coated.
Leave to rest and serve: cover and leave to marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Serve at room temperature with homemade bread to mop up the oil. Enjoy :)

Body soaps

Homemade soap made with extravirgin olive oil

A natural, nourishing and gentle bar of soap.

Difficulty Very easy

Price Very cheap

Preparation time 10 minutes

Ingredients (for 16 bars of soap)

0.5 kg of Sparacino organic extra virgin olive oil
64 gr. di caustic soda (NaOH)
150 ml. of cold distilled water
1 teaspoon of cornflour or potato starch
2 teaspoons of essential oil (optional)

Procedure

Prepare your equipment: wear latex gloves and safety goggles — caustic soda is corrosive. Use only stainless steel or heat-resistant glass containers; never aluminium. Prepare the moulds; we use silicone muffin moulds.
Dissolve the caustic soda: slowly pour the caustic soda into cold water — never the other way round. Stir with a stainless steel spoon: the solution will get very hot. Leave to cool to around 40°C.
Combine and mix: slowly pour the lye solution into the oil, stirring continuously with a hand blender. Blend in short bursts until the mixture leaves a trail on the surface, like mayonnaise. Add the cornflour and essential oil, if using.
Pour into the moulds: pour the mixture into the moulds, level the surface and cover with a cloth.
Resting in the moulds: leave to rest for 48 hours without touching. The soap will set and cool slowly.
Curing: remove the soap from the moulds. Place the bars on a wire rack and leave them to cure in a cool, dry place for at least 4 weeks. Curing completes the saponification process and makes the soap milder and longer-lasting.

Please note!

Caustic soda is dangerous — always work in a well-ventilated area, wearing gloves and safety goggles. Never leave it unattended near children.

Freshly made soap is not yet ready for use: complete saponification requires a 4-week curing period. The longer it cures, the milder it becomes. For a gentler version, you can replace 20% of the olive oil with coconut oil.

For skin and hair care

The benefits of extra virgin olive oil for skin and hair care are not just a matter of tradition — they are backed up by scientific research. Find out more here: