all recipes | popular | recommended | subscribe

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Food Wine and Love
  • Easy
  • Desserts
  • Dinner
  • Snacks
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Home » Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Filed Under: Mediterranean Diet, Mediterranean Diet Facts and Food

This Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives tells us why they are so good for you.

There are so many great tasting olives and so many reasons to enjoy eating them!

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

This is an easy guide for anyone following the Mediterranean diet.
I like that there are so many reasons to enjoy olives too!

Did you try my Greek Chickpea salad recipe?

That salad recipe is one of many recipes that I have posted that includes olives.
The olives in that recipe give the salad both flavoring and color that helps make the salad so delicious.

Do you want to learn more about the Mediterranean Diet?
Find out how to follow the Mediterranean Diet here.

You may be asking, what are the benefit of eating olives?

Olives, as you may already know, are a cornerstone ingredient in the Mediterranean diet. For followers of the Mediterranean diet because it is a healthy diet and not necessarily living in the Mediterranean area of the world, you may already know of some of these benefits.

There are some impressive nutritional benefits associated with eating olives.

Olives are a good source of vitamin e, good monounsaturated fat, polyphenols and flavonoids (antioxidants with anti-inflammatory benefits). This means that researchers tell us that olives are good for the heart, blood, and maybe even cancer.

People ask, is an olive a fruit or a vegetable

Olives grown on trees and as a result, are considered to be a fruit. More specifically, a ‘stone fruit’ as they have that well-known pit in them.

Olives originated in the Mediterranean areas of the world.

Today you can find olives growing in not only the Mediterranean areas but, the U.S., Asia and even Africa.

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives- A bowl of olives

You may be wondering re green or black olives healthier?

Black and green olives are technically the same thing.
The actual difference between green and black olives is how ripe they are as they are picked at different times of their ripeness.

Green olives are the first to be picked and are picked before they are ripened.
Black olives, are picked when they are are filly ripened. Their actual color can vary from dark purple to black as well.
moderation

Facts about olives.

  1. Olives are sugar free, cholesterol free, low carb, and come with some fiber, making them a darling of keto and low carbohydrate diets.
  2. The foundation and the dynamic spark of Mediterranean dishes for thousands of years are olives and olive oil. Some believe that neolithic man gathered olives around 10,000 years ago.
  3. Olives come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. Straight off the tree, the olive is bitter. The secret of olives is in the cure. Also, the curing process is what gives each olive its distinctive, unique flavor.

The most popular olives in the US.

The typical olive in the United States is either the black olive or the green olive. You probably have some in a cabinet or have eaten one recently,

Like wine, olives in the United States are more commonly grown in California.

Another name for Manzanillo Olives is ‘green olive’. The black olive is commonly known as the ‘Mission Olive’.

Manzanillo Olives

Commonly known as the “Green Olive”.
This is what you are most likely to see on a store shelf or served with a meal. It is cured to give it a more salty flavor. Originally from Spain, this olive sometimes stuffed with pimentos or even a pepper or cheese.

Manzanillo Olives are easy to pit and they have an exceptional flesh.
This olive is also an excellent table olive because of its rich taste. Even better, the Manzanillo olive is used to make olive oil since the oil content is 20.3%.

Facts about Mission Olives

The Black or mission olive has been in California since 1769 where it was grown in the Spanish missions in Southern California to Northern California. The mission olive is a medium size oval olive that turns deep purple that changes to jet-black when mature.

The taste of the Mission Olive can be intensely bitter.

The black or Mission olive is best used as pickles or cold-pressed oil. Cold-pressed oil is a chemical-free process that makes a higher quality of olive oil, which is lower in acidity. Extra pure virgin olive oil is the cold pressing result of the first pressing of olives. In other words, the olives go through a pressing process that squeezes the oil from the olives.

The Kalamata Olive is a lesser common olive seen in the US.

This is the dark purple or black olive that is commonly eaten with salads or Greek dishes. This olive comes in jar and is preserved in a wine vinegar or olive oil.

Kalamata olives are a black olive that is not commonly harvested before becoming ripe.
This means that you will not find a green Kalamata olive on your store shelf.
Kalamata olives got their name from the area of Greece in which they have originated from.

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Here are some less common olives that you may have heard of.

  • Ascolano: This olive does not turn black when ripe. This fruit has a delicate taste. The Ascolano olive is cured in a pickling process.
  • Barouni: This is a green, extra-large and oval-shaped olive. Imported from North Africa and grown in California, Barouni olives do well in unusually cold or hot climates.
  • Gordal: This olive is a large, oval-shaped green olive with purple tones. It is more mature than normal green olives and has a sweeter flavor. Gordal ripen early and is either pickled or cured as a table olive.
  • Picholine: This is an olive from a native tree of France which produces a medium-sized, elongated fruit. Ironically, the Picholine olive is harvested green for eating and black for oil. This cured olives have a subtle, slightly salty, nutty flavor. The curing process is in salt-brine. Most olive connoisseurs consider it a gourmet olive.
olives on tree Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Olives growing on a tree Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

By the way, while you are here you may also be interested in these ideas.

  • Easiest Greek Salad in Vinaigrette Dressing.
  • How to Make Fire Roasted Tomatoes.
  • Kale and Quinoa Caesar Salad.
  • Mediterranean Style Green Bean Salad.
  • Classic Eggplant Caponata.
  • Easy Chicken Orzo Salad.
  • How to Follow the Mediterranean Diet.

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest| Facebook | and Instagram.
Also, subscribe to my weekly newsletter!

–KEEP SCROLLING–

 

What is the best way to eat olives?

Well you probably already know that most olives taste just great right out of the can or bottle.
However, you could just use your olives to complement a beverage or a meal (think toothpicks).

But, you can easily add your olives to one of your great tasting recipes too!

When you add sliced olives to stuffing, hummus, or a seafood salad, you can make those recipes taste even better. Don’t forget that you can make your olives into their own great recipe by making a tapenade (Kalamata, Spanish or Greek are great when you use them for this!).

How you can Store Olives

Olives that are purchased from a grocery store in a can or bottle, are usually preserved to make them last longer. It is usually best to store the olives in their liquid as a result.

If your olives come in a can, it is a good idea to transfer the olives and the liquid to an air tight container.

An unopened jar or can of olives can be stored at room temperature for up to a couple of years. Refrigerated opened jar of olives or transferred from a can olives, can be kept in an air tight container from two weeks to a month or longer (read the label because they may have some kind of preservative).

How to use olives

You already know that olives can be enjoyable when eaten from the can or the jar.
Also, you probably have seen an olive on a toothpick making a beverage or sandwich look even more appealing,

Here are some more ways that you can eat olives.

You can easily slice up your olives and place them on top of a pizza or stir them into a tasty dip or tapenade. Perhaps, you can simply enjoy olives along with cheese on a charcuterie board: or serving platter for you to eat or serve to others.

Olives are a versatile fruit. However, recipes that use olives are tasty and thus sophisticated. Olives add zest to life.  

Thanks so much for visiting!

If you decide to make one of my recipes, please stop back and let me know how it turned out for you. My readers like to stop by periodically because of updates on the recipes. Reading the comments below is helpful to these readers and hopefully to you too!!

Looking for a recipe that is not on my site?
Please let me know however, and I will thus try getting that recipe for you.
Happy baking, eating, and thus enjoying life!

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives, nutritional facts and uses for olives that are common to the Mediterranean diet.

Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

18
Shares
« Vegan Beer Cheese Queso
Spicy Air Fried Carrots »

Filed Under: Mediterranean Diet, Mediterranean Diet Facts and Food Tagged With: Mediterranean Diet Guide to Olives

Follow Me on Social Media!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Get Free Updates in Your Email Box

This email newsletter is sent to your mailbox once a week. You are able to monitor your subscription by clicking on "preferences" at any time.

Privacy Policy

About Me

food wine and love

I am a believer in healthy living and healthy eating.

When I turned a certain age (we all have our own ‘certain age’ right?), I decided it was time to eat and live in more healthy manner. I gave up meat and processed foods and adopted a diet based upon fruit, vegetables, and simple recipes. Walking, running, and yoga are a passion as are my pets.

Vegan Lemon Garlic Pasta

Vegan Lemon Garlic Pasta

Vegan Lemon Garlic Pasta is a creamy and tasty meal idea. I like that tastes like a how the creamy lemon sauce over linguine balances perfectly with the garlic. Vegan Lemon Garlic Pasta This is a vegan version of the popular Pasta Limone. When balanced with a hint of garlic, this is delicious and flavorful…

Read More

Vegan Kung Pao Cauliflower - Instant Pot

Vegan Kung Pao Cauliflower – Instant Pot

Vegan Kung Pao Cauliflower – Instant Pot recipe is easy to make. I like that this vegan kung pao recipe tastes sweet and spicy just like the chicken version tastes. Vegan Kung Pao Cauliflower – Instant Pot This recipe is based on the Kung Pao Chicken dish. However, this Kung Pao is made with cauliflower…

Read More

Mediterranean Diet Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Mediterranean Diet Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

Mediterranean Diet Chicken Parmesan Meatballs is a delicious idea for a meal. However, I also like that this dish has many great options to it as well! Mediterranean Diet Chicken Parmesan Meatballs This is a recipe for meatballs that are made using chicken rather than beef. These tasty meatballs can be served with sauce over…

Read More

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website, and specifically on this post, that lead to other sites may be affiliate links.

 

Food Wine and Love was developed to share a passion for everything in life. Please visit our sister site TheSugarFreeDiva.com!

Primary Sidebar

Popular Right Now

Baked Pasta in Feta Sauce

Easy Pasta in Feta Sauce

How to Make Fire Roasted Tomatoes

How to Make Fire Roasted Tomatoes

Really Simple Oysters Rockefeller

Really Simple Oysters Rockefeller

Vegan Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake

Vegan Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake

Easiest Greek Salad in Vinaigrette Dressing

Easiest Greek Salad in Vinaigrette Dressing

How to Make Ricotta Frosting

How to Make Ricotta Frosting

See Even More Popular Recipes

Looking for Something?

Footer

↑ back to top

Quick Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Mediterranean Diet Recipes
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Salads

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Follow

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • twitter
  • pinterest

Copyright © ·

Use of this site means that you agree with the terms and other disclosures of this site. {Disclosure-This site uses affiliate links which means that there may be compensation involved with reader actions. Thank you!} As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that the links on this website that lead to other sites may be affiliate link

Read more at: https://foodwineandlove.com/privacy-policy/