How Do You Use Olives From Olive Trees?

You can use olives from olive trees in a variety of culinary applications, typically after curing or processing to remove their natural bitterness.

Here's a breakdown of how olives are commonly used:

• Curing: Freshly picked olives are naturally bitter and require curing before they're palatable. Different curing methods exist, including:

  • Brine Curing: Soaking olives in a saltwater solution over several weeks or months. This is a common method resulting in a salty flavor.
  • Dry Salt Curing: Covering olives in dry salt, which draws out moisture and bitterness. This method results in a wrinkled texture and concentrated olive flavor.
  • Water Curing: Soaking olives in water, changing the water regularly, to leach out the bitterness. This is a slower method but can result in a milder flavor.
  • Lye Curing: Soaking olives in a lye solution, which speeds up the curing process, but requires careful monitoring and rinsing.

• Culinary Uses: Once cured, olives are incredibly versatile.

  • Eating as a Snack: Marinated or simply brined olives can be enjoyed as appetizers or snacks.

  • Pizza Topping: Sliced or whole olives are a popular pizza topping.

  • Salads: Olives add a salty and briny flavor to salads. Popular examples include Greek salads.

  • Tapenades and Spreads: Olives are a key ingredient in tapenades, which are spreads made with crushed or blended olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil.

  • Sauces and Stews: Olives can be added to sauces and stews to enhance their flavor. Add them toward the end of cooking to preserve their flavor and texture, as prolonged cooking can make them bitter.

  • Martinis: Green olives are a classic garnish for martinis.

  • Olive Oil Production: The most important and prevalent use is to extract olive oil. Ripe olives are crushed and processed to separate the oil from the pulp.

  • Olive Paste: A smooth paste made of olives is a versatile spread or ingredient.

• Considerations:

  • Timing: As mentioned above, when adding olives to cooked dishes, add them later in the cooking process to prevent them from becoming bitter or losing their flavor.

  • Pitted vs. Unpitted: Pitted olives are more convenient for certain uses (like pizza toppings), while unpitted olives often retain more flavor.

  • Olive Variety: Different varieties of olives have distinct flavors and textures. Experiment to find your favorites.