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Calling all olive lovers: June 1st is National Olive Day.
OLIVE HISTORY
The olive history is an ancient one, following figs as the earliest domesticated fruit tree.
Olives trees were native to Asia Minor. The latest findings show that the olive was first domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean basin between 8,000 and 6,000 years ago.
(Writing itself only began some 5200 years ago, around 3200 B.C.E.)
The olive tree spread from Iran, Palestine and Syria to the rest of the Mediterranean. It was grown on Crete by 3000 BC.E., and the crop of fruit and oil may have been the source of the wealth of the Minoan kingdom.
The Phoenicians brought the olive tree to the north coast of Africa and to southern Europe.
The olive culture arrived in ancient Greece, and from there to Rome. As the Romans extended their empire, they brought the olive with them.
Here’s more on the history of the olive.
21 USES FOR OLIVES
Our personal favorite recipes are black olive tapenade and green olive tapenade.
Here are 22 more everyday uses for olives:
Antipasto plates
Baked potatoes, sour cream and chives
Bruschetta and crostini
Canapés
Cream cheese (for bagels and crackers)
Dressing and stuffing
Frittatas and quiches
Grain dishes
Greek yogurt
Hummus
Martinis and cocktail nibbles
Meat or vegetable skewers
Omelets, scrambled eggs and deviled eggs
Pasta
Pizza
Purée into vinaigrette
Puttanesca sauce (tomato sauce, capers, olives, chile)
Ratatouille
Salads: egg, chicken, tuna, shellfish and green salads
Sauce for grilled fish (with butter or EVOO and capers)
Snacks
Stews
OLIVE RECIPES
Thanks to Lindsay olives for these yummy recipes (click links):
Olive-Cheese Corn Bread (Keto-Friendly) (photo # 2): Spoon mild and nutty Lindsay Black Ripe Olives and tart and zesty Manzanilla Olives Stuffed with Pimiento into the batter of the corn bread before topping with cheese, more olives and scallions.
Olive & Cherry Tomato Panzanella (photo # 3): A great way to use up day-old baguette, Italian bread or rolls. Toss tangy Lindsay Organic Green Olives with sundried tomatoes, bell peppers and homemade croutons for a summery panzanella salad.
Savory Jalapeño-Olive Margarita (photo # 4): Combine tequila, lime and muddled Lindsay Jalapeno Queen Olives for this bartender-worthy marg. Kick up the flavor factor by adding olive brine.
Find many other olive recipes at ILoveLindsay.com.
> TYPES OF OLIVES & OLIVE OILS
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[1] Castelvetrano olives from Sicily, one of our favorite varieties (photo © DiBruno Brothers | Philadelphia).
[2] Olive & Cheese Cornbread (photos #2, #3, #4 © Lindsay Olives).
[3] Olive & Cherry Tomato Panzanella.
[4] Savory Jalapeño & Olive Margarita.
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