Did you know people pay upward of $20 for black pepper-infused olive oil and another $15 for garlic-infused olive oil? I don’t know about you, but both of these sound amazing. Now, imagine combining the two for a black pepper & garlic-infused olive oil. I know; it sounds phenomenal! No worries, I already did all the experimenting, and it’s as good as it sounds!
First, let’s discuss the benefits of the show’s two stars. We have two key ingredients brimming with health benefits – black pepper and garlic because there’s nothing better than functional foods that taste amazing!
Black pepper is one of the most commonly used cooking spices and just so happens to be highly nutritious. Aside from its amazing nutritional profile, black pepper supports heart, metabolic (blood sugar benefits), and brain health. Black pepper also has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, and anticancer properties.
Garlic, like black pepper, is a commonly used cooking herb that’s highly nutritious. Aside from its amazing nutritional profile, garlic supports the immune system, heart health, bone health, and athletic performance. Garlic also has antioxidant, detoxifying, and anticancer properties.
Now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for – how to make it yourself.
For convenience, I included two cooking methods – stove top and oven. 
Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil (Stovetop Method)
In my home, we live for garlic and pepper in recipes, but you can add or remove any ingredients to customize the perfect infused oil for your favorite recipes.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves of garlic
- 1 tbsp. black peppercorns
Directions:
Step 1: Prepare the garlic cloves by cutting them in half.
Step 2: Add the garlic and whole peppercorns to a mason jar with the extra virgin olive oil.
Step 3: Fill a pot with water until it’s halfway up the mason jar.
Step 4: Place the mason jar in the water, and over low heat, warm the oil until it reaches about 180ºF.
Step 5: After the oil has reached 180ºF, remove the pan from heat and allow the mason jar to sit in the water for two hours as it reaches room temperature.
Step 6: After the oil has reached room temperature, remove the mason jar from the water, put the lid on, and store it in the refrigerator.
Step 7: Enjoy your Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil in any of your favorite recipes that call for olive oil, like Herb-Roasted Potatoes or Parmesan-Crusted Cauliflower. Anything left over can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to seven days or in the freezer for several months.
Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil (Stovetop Method)
Ingredients
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp black peppercorns
Instructions
- Prepare the garlic cloves by cutting them in half.
- Add the garlic and whole peppercorns to a mason jar with the extra virgin olive oil.
- Fill a pot with water until it’s halfway up the mason jar.
- Place the mason jar in the water, and over low heat, warm the oil until it reaches about 180ºF.
- After the oil has reached 180ºF, remove the pan from heat and allow the mason jar to sit in the water for two hours as it reaches room temperature.
- After the oil has reached room temperature, remove the mason jar from the water, put the lid on, and store it in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy your Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil in any of your favorite recipes that call for olive oil. Anything left over can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to seven days or in the freezer for several months.
Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil (Oven Method)
Like the stovetop method, you can add or remove any ingredients to customize the perfect infused oil for your favorite recipes.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 head of garlic
- 2 tbsp. Black pepper
Directions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
Step 2: Peel and separate the garlic cloves.
Step 3: Add the olive oil, garlic, and black pepper to a small baking dish and give it a quick stir to combine the ingredients.
Step 4: Bake at 400ºF for 35 minutes.
Step 5: Enjoy your Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil in any of your favorite recipes that call for olive oil, like Herb-Roasted Potatoes or Parmesan-Crusted Cauliflower. Anything left over can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to seven days or in the freezer for several months.
Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil (Oven Method)
Ingredients
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 head garlic (6-8 cloves)
- 2 tbsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- Peel and separate the garlic cloves.
- Add the olive oil, garlic, and black pepper to a small baking dish and give it a quick stir to combine the ingredients.
- Bake at 400ºF for 35 minutes.
- Enjoy your Black Pepper & Garlic-Infused Olive Oil in any of your favorite recipes that call for olive oil. Anything left over can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to seven days or in the freezer for several months.
One important question please. The one thing I don’t see addressed is botulism. Garlic sitting in oil is known as a potential way to get botulism. Is it taken care of because the oil is heated?
Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. Botulism is not something I had considered when writing this recipe. According to the US Department of Agriculture, mixtures of garlic oil stored at room temperature are at risk of developing botulism. To avoid botulism, they recommend storing it in the refrigerator for up to seven days or in the freezer for up to several months. I have already updated the recipe to reflect this information. I hope this is helpful, and thank you again for your comment.