I used to hate olives. Even their smell would put me off, but one day when I was around 19 or 20, I developed a taste for green olives. I now love them, especially Manzanilla olives.
I find green olives perfect with a glass of wine for get-togethers or as I wait for my main course and chat with friends when I am on a night out.
In fact, any food you can prepare in advance put in the middle of a table for guests to help themselves to as much or as little as they want is my favourite kind of food.
I always find that tapas and sharing platters make eating feel convivial. You get to spend lots of time with your guests and if they are not keen on one of the dips or small dishes, they do not feel forced to try just to be polite. Everyone is a winner!
When I went to a Talk to Mums event a couple of months ago, there was a lovely cookbook in our goody bag. Olive It is all about olives (no kidding!), seasoning them in inventive ways and creative flavoursome combinations.
The book is full of information about olives and recipes by chefs and culinary experts Omar Allibhoy, José Pizzaro, Dr Simon Poole and Sue Ashworth.
Did you know?
Olives are virtually cholesterol-free and approximately 150 calories per 100g. Olives are also a good source of vitamin E and 110g of black olives provides half of the recommended daily allowance of iron.
In the book, you can expect to find a variety of recipes for marinated olives using complementary flavours and uncomplicated ingredients. I always buy olives marinated, but I am now quite keen to try making my own marinades as it is so quick and simple.
Other recipes from the book I am planning to try soon are: olives with artichokes and cheese-stuffed piquante peppers, wasabi and ginger olives with smoked salmon, black olive, Manchego and hazelnut tapenade as well as black olive tapenade and goat’s cheese croustades.
This weekend, I went for the classic black olive and caper combination to make tapenade. As much as I love green olives, I do not eat black olives, unless they are mixed with other ingredients. Even Hubby, who was less than enthusiastic at the thought of trying the tapenade I had made, enjoyed it in the end.
Here is the recipe, with slightly more olive oil than in the original recipe (page 48 of the book).
Tapenade
Ingredients
- 250 g pitted black olives in brine drained
- 1 garlic clove peeled and crushed
- 3 tablespoons capers in brine drained
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ red chilli finely chopped
Instructions
- Simply blend all ingredients together.
- Enjoy!
You could a copy of the Olive It! cookbook… I have 20 to give away!
How to enter the giveaway:
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Disclosure:
I was sent supermarket vouchers in return for an honest review. All opinions and photos are my own.
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What a delicious tapenade, Mel! I didn’t like olives either but now I do. And so glad. Will look forward to seeing more olive recipes from your new cookbook! Have a lovely day! xo
It really was gorgeous, especially with the kick from the chillies!
I would use Lemon, Thyme & rosemary.. nice
Nice!
Definitely some Chilli (mild), some Oregano and possibly a squirt of lemon xx
id use a salad dressing x
Garlic and cinnamon, bit different but it works! (for me)
oranges would be good
Lemon and Rosemary.
Tomato and basil
Lemon juice, olive oil and fresh rosemary
Garlic, lime and olive oil
cheese based
sundried tomatoes and garlic – simple but delicious.
Lemon Thyme & Rosemary 🙂
Chilli oil
Simple yet perfect!
My favourite ?
Garlic, olive oil, basil and a little saffron.
olive oil, diced chilli, garlic, a dash of vinegar and lemon rind. possibly some finely diced fresh coriander if i’m feeling the need for something extra.
Yum, yum, yum and yummy!
Plain tomato x
Lemon and garlic <3
Beautiful book great for me to practice and perfect my tapas – always use chilli and chilli oil . Garlic and sundries tomatoes sprinkled with a small amount of basil x
Just garlic and olive oil
lemon and thyme probably 🙂
tomato and basil
Tomato, Basil and Black Pepper.
good luck
Lemon and rosemary
Sundried Tomatoes and chilli. So delicious!
I might try vodka and see what it’s like!
chilli and capers in olive oil
Lemon, Thyme & Rosemary
vinegar & Garlic
Olive oil and garlic
Balsamic Vinegar & Honey
garlic, tomato and basil
Something spicy 🙂
Pesto mixed and blended with olives and macapony cheese and meatballs yum!
Lemon and garlic
chilli or garlic marinade
Lemon and garlic
Freshly squeezed lemon would be lovely!
Lemon and garlic
Chilli oil
Lemon
Lemon
It’s just got to be garlic in a good olive oil
anything spicy!
A lot of tomato and a little bit of basil thank u
Garlic oil
Lemon and Rosemary
Garlic everytime!
with hint of chilli 🙂
Tomato I think 🙂
It would be garlic and chilli to be sure!
Chilli and capers in oliveoil
orange and oregano
Garlic, Thyme and Rosemary
Something super hot with bird eye chillis or some Wasabi to make them a bit japanese
garlic and salsa
Lemon and Garlic
Lemon, Thyme & Rosemary
Sundried tomato, basil and chilli oil
Sun dried tomatoes, mozerella, fresh basil and olive oil
A little taste of chilli always
Lemon juice, oil and a touch of garlic would suit me just fine
Tomato and basil
I think sweet chilli marinade
Olive oil, a dash of balsamico, mild chilli & a bit of garlic
sweet chilli or garlic 🙂
Garlic, chilli and olive oil
Garlic and chilli in some olive oil! Yummy!
lemon and garlic
garlic & tomato
My favourite dressing for olives is lemon and rosemary.
garlic and chili yum!!
Chilli and Garlic!
It has to be the classics… Chilli and Garlic…yummy. xx
I would use Lemon, Thyme and Garlic
i love garlic so that would be lovely
oregano or thyme
Garlic and Olive oil
Chilli Oil
Chilli & garlic & lemon juice
Tomato, basil and rosemary would be nice. 🙂
Mmmm I love olives now. Took me a few years but I got there!