Two young artisan producers have combined their expertise to produce North Yorkshire’s first smoked rapeseed oil.
The award-winning Thixendale farm diversification business, Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil has joined forces with East Yorkshire smokery, Staal Smokel to create an Oak Smoked Rapeseed Oil that is hand crafted and smoked over oak and apple wood for a fuller flavour.
Staal Smokehouse founder, Justin Staal and fellow family business owners Adam and Jennie Palmer from Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil, started talking about how they could combine their expertise after meeting at a tasting event at Hornsea Farm Shop, William’s Farm Kitchen, in 2012.
“Smoked food is really popular at the moment – with homesmokers and barbecue restaurants popping up all over the place,” says Justin Staal, who makes an eight-strong range of delicately hand-smoked poultry and fish at Staal Smokehouse.
“We wanted to tap into people’s love of smoky food by giving home cooks a delicious culinary oil to work with too and spent months looking for just the right oil to smoke. We were naturally delighted to find award winning Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil within 30 miles of the Long Riston Smokehouse. The oil adds real depth to many dishes, including salads, pasta and makes a fabulous hummus.”
Following months of research and testing, Oak Smoked Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil is now available nationally via www.yorkshirerapeseedoil.co.uk and www.staalsmokehouse.co.uk and from Malton Food Lovers Festival, Farmers’ Markets, farm shops, independent retailers and shows throughout Yorkshire and London and the South East. The RSP is £4.00 for a 250ml bottle.
Of the collaboration, Adam Palmer said: “Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil is already a Guild of Fine Food Two Star award winner and has a natural, nutty flavour that takes on other flavours well, so we have high hopes for this local collaboration that can put Yorskhire’s artisan producers firmly on the culinary map.”