Argan Oil

Last week my friend brought me a bottle of Argan Oil from Morocco. Argan oil comes from the Argan tree, which only grows in Morocco, making it one of the rarest oils on earth. It is even more rare now that the Argan tree is an endangered species. This tree grows in Southwestern Morocco, in sandy soil at the edge of the Sahara Desert. According to Wikipedia, the oil is very rich in Vitamin E (which makes it a popular cosmetic oil), phenols and phenolic acid, carotenes, squalene, and essential fatty acids.

The oil has a very distinctive smell, similar to roasted hazelnuts and has a strong, nutty taste. In Morocco its often used in tagines and on couscous. I used a tablespoon of Argan oil and a tablespoon of olive oil to saute watercress in last night. It was absolutely fantastic! You can buy it online here at igourmet.