Moroccan oil is famous in skin care and hair care, but it is an excellent addition to cooking. Pure argan oil has many health benefits including a high vitamin E content and a variety of essential fatty acids. It is traditionally used in the cuisine of the indigenous Berber tribes in Morocco, and they also know about its health-giving and medicinal properties.
The oil is extracted from the kernels inside the argan fruit. This fruit comes from the argan tree that used to grow in all parts of Morocco but is now reduced to the south-west part of the country. The trees are protected by UNESCO and the oil is produced mainly by local women’s co-operatives.
The pure argan oil that is used in skin care is cold-pressed and extracted from the kernels inside the fruit. The edible variety is made with roasted kernels, and the roasting gives it a nutty flavour that resembles the flavour of pumpkin seed oils. The scent can be quite strong but you only need to use a small amount to give any food some extra flavour and to enjoy the nutritional benefits.
Moroccan oil contains more vitamin E than olive oil, and it is full of antioxidants that are believed to have anti-ageing properties. These antioxidants make it very popular in skin care and especially anti-ageing beauty products. It is also rich in essential fatty acids. These are the so-called “good fats” that are needed for everyday health and well-being.
One of these essential fatty acids is Omega-6, a fatty acid that is necessary for your health but that cannot be produced by the body. It is important to get enough Omega-6 from food and using a little of this natural oil every day can help you to keep up a healthy intake of fatty acids. Even if you are using Moroccan oil on the skin, taking some internally every day while also applying it on your face and body is good for the skin and for the hair too.
Easy Uses in Cooking
The easiest way to enjoy its health-giving effects is to use it as a dip for bread. In Morocco, flat bread is often dipped into a bowl of oil for breakfast or as an accompaniment to lunch. Add some salt and pepper if you wish, or use it as it is if you like the nutty flavour. It can also be used instead of vegetable oils to fry vegetables, fish or even meat, although it loses some of its nutrients in the frying process and it can also lose some of its flavours.
To make a simple and healthy salad dressing, combine Moroccan oil with some lemon juice and use in any salads. You can also drizzle a little from the bottle directly on top of pizza, pasta dishes or any foods. When using pure argan oil in cooking, add it to the foods only at the very end so the heat does not destroy the nutrients.