The Incredible Edible Olive

have been eaten and the oil used since biblical timesmust pick the right olive to compliment the main food.
but it wasn't until recently that they have enjoyed soSome olives can be salty, some sweet and others
much press due to their cardioprotective properties.earthy and rustic. Here's a guide to the different types
About 1/3 of the olive is monounsaturated fatty acid,of olives and the foods they go best with.
commonly refereed to as "the good fat" which isSweet Flavored Olives
thought to lower cholesterol levels and help prohibit theGreen olives with herbs de Provence have a vibrant
buildup of plaque in the arteries.citrus flavored and is a delightful blend of herbs de
Olives are grown mostly in the MediterraneanProvence spices and large green olives. It is an
countries where they are a large part of the diet.excellent choice to use in surf dishes and with sweet
Studies have shown that people in the Mediterraneanspices.
regions who eat a lot of olives tend to have less heartEarthy Flavored Olives
disease as well as less incidence of certain types ofNicoises is a earthy rich olive commonly used in salad.
cancer.The curing of this olive in red-wine vinegar gives it a
The olives that we are used to seeing in the storesdistinctive taste. Mount Athos green olives with
and eating are not fresh olives from the trees. In theirsun-dried tomatoes are olives combined with sun dried
raw state, olives are quite bitter and they must betomatoes. The heavy flavor of this olive make it a
"cured" in order to be palatable. Different methods ofgreat snack all by itself! Sun-dried olives have a rich
curing produce different flavors in the olives and today,flavor that blends wonderfully in sauces for serving
there are dozens of gourmet olives widely available.over pasta.
Olives can be used to add zest to any dish - but you