There are great selections when it comes to green olives including Manzanilla, Gordal, Liguria, Castelvetrano, Cerignola, Arbequina, and Picholine. These olives mainly differ in taste and texture. Nonetheless, they are all amazing and offer health benefits to the body.
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Where they are grown and harvested
Most are grown and harvested in European countries including Greece, France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
How they differ in taste and texture
Green olives are harvested before they ripen which is why they tend to be saltier compared to black olives who are harvested after they ripen. These olives can taste nutty, rich, buttery, smoky, and even almondy. Their taste would depend on where they are from. When it comes to texture, there might be a difference in plumpness, green color, and size. For example, Cerignola olives from Italy are larger than the usual olives and they offer a certain crispiness.
Nutritional Benefits
High in healthy fats
Olives, as a whole, are packed with healthy fats, specifically, monounsaturated fat. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this type of fat is very good for heart and blood sugar control.
Rich in antioxidants
Green olives are also rich in antioxidants to better fight off different types of diseases throughout the body and they improve immune responses naturally.
Other important nutrients and minerals
Olives contain vit E, vit A, Iron, Calcium, and Copper. They also contain oleocanthal which is a compound that can kill cancer cells. Olives are also high in fiber.
How to Use Green Olives in Cooking
As a tasty ingredient in salads
Olives go well in different kinds of salads, mostly Mediterranean variations. Green olives add a bitter and tangier taste to salad dishes.
As a flavorful addition to pasta dishes
Either as a whole or as oil, olives are a great addition to different types of pasta dishes including Sicilian pasta, Tortellini pasta salad, and Mediterranean pasta.
In savory spreads and dips
Tapenade is one of the top olive dishes and it is versatile that it can be served as a dip or drizzled as a sauce.
Other Cuisines
Olives are vital ingredients in Mediterranean cuisine. But, it also goes well with different dishes derived from Spanish and Chinese cuisines. In other cuisines, olives are mostly used in the form of olive oil.
Exciting recipes featuring green olives from around the world
Great recipes you can try with green olives include Spanish Spaghetti, Cuban-style Ropa Vieja, Chinese Olive Fried Rice, Kao Pad Nahm Liap from Thailand, and more.
Buying and Storing Green Olives
Tips for selecting the best quality green olives
When buying green olives, make sure that they are firm and not bruised. They should also be either color green or yellow-green. If you can do a quick taste, make sure that they bitter and more intense compared to black olives.
How to store to preserve their flavor and freshness
It is best to store green olives in the fridge with their lid tightly closed.
How to Pit Green Olives
Different methods
Pitting methods for olives depend on the tools being used. Other than using olive pitter, you can pit olives using a knife, skimmer spoon, tweezers, paperclip, and your own fingers. Compared to black olives, green ones tend to be harder to pit.
Conclusion
Green olives are very healthy ingredients, and they go well with a lot of other ingredients. The main takeaways from this article include the different types of olives and how to distinguish them. Another is the health benefits of eating them. So if you are looking to embrace healthier foods, olives should be in the mix with other superfoods.
