Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a ready to use storage stable food composition. The method comprises comminuting an admixture of a fresh plant material and an oil at a substantially neutral pH and under conditions whereby browning enzymes in the plant material are substantially prevented from reacting; rapidly heating the admixture to a temperature at which the browning enzymes are substantially inactivated, and under conditions whereby the admixture loses substantially no weight during heating; and cooling the heated admixture to a temperature at which growth of spoilage organisms does not occur. Also disclosed herein are ready to use storage stable food compositions. When the compositions are combined with foods containing phenolic compounds, no browning of the food occurs.
