|
Varieties Of Gourmet Olives
An explanation of the types and uses of various
olives.......
The history of olives and olive oil can be traced back to
at the least biblical times. When the waters of the great
flood subsided and Noah sent forth a dove it was an olive
leaf she returned carrying in her mouth. It is known that as
long as 6000 years ago olive oil was used as fuel in lamps.
Maybe it was this olive oil that created such a beautiful
Genie for Major Anthony Nelson to rescue in the popular
television sitcom I Dream of Genie.
Today in modern grocery stores there are dozens of
gourmet olives widely available. Gone are the days of canned
black olives and green olives with pimentos as the only
choices. For those of us who remember the days of opening a
can of black olives and placing one on each finger then
systematically biting them off here is the new olive.
Nicoises:
Is a earthy rich olive commonly used in salad.
The curing of this olive in red-wine vinegar gives it a
distinctive taste.
Green olives with herbs de Provence:
This vibrant citrus
flavored olive is a delightful blend of herbs de Provence
spices and large green olives. It is an excellent choice to
use in surf dishes and with sweet spices.
Mount Athos green with Sicilian herbs:
This is a second
olive that utilizes herbs to dominate the pallet. Rosemary,
garlic, mustard seed, and red pepper flakes give this olive
a spicy appeal.
Mount Athos green stuffed with garlic:
For a modern twist
on the martini this olive is an excellent choice. It is
stuffed with rich flavorful garlic and lends itself well to
pizza as well as martinis.
Mount Athos green olives with sun-dried tomatoes:
Sun-dried tomatoes give this heavy olive an intense flavor
that is sophisticated and ideal for snacking.
Sun-dried olives:
The drying of this olive gives it a
rich flavor that blends wonderfully in sauces for serving
over pasta.
Kalamatas:
A tangy black olive cured in red-wine vinegar
that can be from Italy or California. The California variety
is denoted with a 'c' spelling rather than a 'k'.
Alfonsos:
This robust winey tasting olive is soft and
similar to the kalamata. It is a popular choice in antipasto
salads.
Halkididis:
Very similar in flavor to the kalamatas this
olive is excellent blended with cream cheese and garlic for
a flavorful dip.
Lucques:
This meaty buttery olive contains pits but is
still a wonderful choice with provolone cheese and bruchetta.
Article Author - Geoffrey Cook
You too, can manoeuvre in the unfamiliar waters of
gourmet cuisine, with just a few well-learned techniques
that are easy to master, and build a repertoire of
literally hundreds of dishes and deserts. Let Geoffrey
set you on the path today, to gastronomical delights!
http://www.free-recipe-books.com.
Back to the index to
read other
articles of interest
|
