Making flavored olive oil?

[raweater]

The other day I got a hot pepper and herb olive oil bottle with herbs, peppers and spices in the bottle:

http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/16790/name/PCSpicyHerbPepperOliveOil/catid/178

I was wondering how I could make one myself? Would the peppers, herbs, garlic, etc have to be dehydrated to prevent them from going bad? Or can I put fresh peppers and herbs in the olive oil and still have it keep at room temp?

Thanks

[Aleesha Sattva]

fresh would taste better but wouldn't last as long. for a long term spiced oil.. use dehydrated

[raweater]

Thanks, and one more question. Does the oil need to sit with the herbs/spices for like days or weeks for the taste to infuse? Or is it ready like the next day?

Thanks

[Aleesha Sattva]

it's ready very quickly! i do it with garlic all the time. it's ready in hours!

but if you add fresh garlic it must be refrigerated!

[raweater]

If I do choose to add fresh herbs/peppers, do you know how long it would keep in the fridge?

Thanks

[Aleesha Sattva]

it keeps for quite awhile when i do it. i only make enough to last me a couple of weeks at a time.

[raweater]

I decided to do it with dehydrated ingredients. I've put jalapenos sliced lenght wise, garlic slices and basil leaves in the dehydrator.

Tomorrow when it's dry I'll put them in olive oil.

Do you know if it will take more or less time to infuse if I used dried ingredients?

Thanks for the info.

[Aleesha Sattva]

there's one way to find out.... by tasting it!

[spicyfull]

Make sure you keep it in the Fridge. and don't keep it too long. You can get "Botchalismn" from homemade items like this.

[raweater]

I just did it now, I added:
-Sliced lenghtwise, dehydrated jalapeno peppers
-Sun dried tomato slices
-Sliced, dehydrated garlic
-Dried basil leaves
-Dried oregano
-Dried thyme
-Coarsely ground black pepper and cardamom

I'm wondering if I put too many herbs now, you can't even see through the oil! It's like a green herby mix.

spicyfull: Is that only if you use fresh/non dehydrated items in it? I put only dry items in the oil.

Thanks