What is Carotino Oil?
Carotino oil is a blend of red palm fruit oil and canola oil. As with palm oil it is bright red which stems from its high levels of naturally present carotenes (vitamin A). Because it is a blend with canola oil it is higher in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids than many other oils. It does not have as strong as a flavour as its palm oil, instead the flavour is quite neutral. And like red palm oil it colors food a bright yellow color, providing a great healthier alternative to its palm oil counterpart, which is composed of 50% saturated fat. Carotino can quite successfully be substituted in most it not all recipes that call for palm without altering the taste or outcome of the dish.
Carotino Nutrition
1 serving: 1 Tbsp
Calories/serving: 120
Total fat: 14g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Palm Fruit oil
1 serving: 1 Tbsp
Calories: 120
Total fat: 14g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 7g
2 Comments
HI Blossom, this is a small world. I actually know of you through Naza. My mom makes a palm oil substitute by blending fresh red bell peppers then frying them on low heat in olive oil until shes left with a bright reddish orange oily paste. Highly flavorful, and provides the same coloration. She only cooks with this "oil" and none of the african people who come over and eat our food have ever noted a difference. As a family we prefer this version to palm oil any day.
ReplyDeleteVery small world it is. Did you go to college with Naza or do you know her from the baltimore-dc area? Any ways thanks for this info and reading. My mother actually does a similar thing with tomatoes.
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