4 Delicious ways for vegetarians to enjoy olives - Olives from Spain

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4 Delicious ways for vegetarians to enjoy olives

February 18, 2019

Boiled egg with Olives from Spain tartare

Level of difficulty: Easy              Servings: 4 people              Preparation time: 12 minutes

 

Ingredients:

– 4 eggs
– 6 Manzanilla Olives from Spain
– 6 Hojiblanca Olives from Spain
– 1 slice of white bread
– Olive oil, salt and pepper
– Vinegar
– Chives

 

Elaboration:

 

Boil the eggs in salted water with a few drops of vinegar for four minutes. Meanwhile, chop the olives and mix them with 2 tablespoons of oil and pepper to taste. Additionally, cut the slice of bread into small cubes and fry until golden. Then place them on a paper towel to drain and sprinkle with a few drops of vinegar.

 

Serve the eggs in eggcups, open them, remove the top part and fill with the fried bread and olive tartare. Finally, sprinkle with finely chopped chives.

 

 

Grilled cheese with spinach, and black and green Olives from Spain

 

Level of difficulty: Easy                Servings: 1 people                 Preparation time: 15 minutes

 

Ingredients:

 

– 1⁄4 cup of pitted Hojiblanca Olives from Spain
– 1⁄4 cup of pimiento-stuffed Manzanilla Olives from Spain
– 2 slices of rustic bread
– 1/3 cup of cheddar cheese
– 1 cup of fresh spinach
– 1 Tomato
– 1⁄4 red onion
– Olive oil
– Sea salt and ground pepper to taste

 

Add a dash of olive oil to one side of the bread. Grate the cheddar cheese and place half of it on the side of the bread without oil.

 

Put 1⁄4 cup of diced black olives, 1⁄4 cup of diced green olives, 1 tablespoon of chopped red onion, 2 tomato slices and the spinach on the bread. Then place the other half of the grated cheese on top and add the other slice of bread with the oil side up.

 

In a non-stick pan heat 1 tablespoon of oil at medium heat. Add the sandwich and cook until the bread is golden brown, and the cheese is melted.

 

 

Tapenade guacamole and salsa in three layers

 

Level of difficulty: Easy                  Servings: 4 people                    Preparation time: 10 minutes

 

For the tapenade:

Mix in a food processor 250 grams of pitted Hojiblanca Olives from Spain, 1 garlic clove, 3 tablespoons of capers, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of chopped red pepper.

 

For the salsa:

To prepare it, mix 3 finely chopped tomatoes, 1⁄4 of a finely cut cucumber, half onion chopped, 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh coriander and season with salt.

 

For the guacamole:

Crush 2 ripe avocados previously halved, pitted and peeled. Then, incorporate 1 de-seed and chopped tomato to the mixture. Finally, add ground black pepper and lime juice to season.

 

Serve the mixes in a glass jar to create a delicious snack.

 

 

Croquetas with Olives from Spain

 

Level of difficulty: Moderate                           Servings: 4-5 people                    Preparation time: 30-40 minutes

 

Ingredients:

 

– 85 grams of Manzanilla Olives from Spain, chopped
– 2 tablespoons olive oil
– 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
– 3 tablespoons of flour
– 1 and a half cups of whole milk
– 2 eggs
– 1 cup of fine dried bread crumbs – Salt

 

Elaboration:

 

In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 tablespoons of butter at medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the flour and mix well. Continue to stir or whisk for about 2 minutes, or until the flour is well blended.

 

Add 1/2 cup of whole milk and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the remaining cup of milk. Cook, stirring frequently until the mixture begins to thicken. Then, decrease the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly to prevent lumps until thickened.

 

Next add the olives, a pinch of salt and stir until evenly distributed. Cook for 1 minute more and then pour the contents of the pan into a dish with a little oil. Spread the mixture evenly and then let it cool down for a bit and then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Continue by beating the eggs in a bowl.

 

Afterwards, spread the bread crumbs on a dinner plate. With 2 spoons, shape the béchamel-olive mixture into walnut-sized croquettes. Roll each croquette in the breadcrumbs, and then dip into the beaten egg. Lay the croquettes in a single layer on a platter. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before frying.

 

Pour abundant olive oil into a deep pot and heat at high temperature. When the oil is hot transfer the croquettes into the oil, making sure to submerge them and fry until they are golden on all sides. Using the slotted spoon, lift out the croquettes, holding them briefly over the pot to allow the excess oil to drain, and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Fry the rest of the croquettes in the same way. Finally, when all the croquettes are fried, arrange on a platter and serve immediately.

 

 

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Seasoning olives with a spring touch

March 20, 2019

Spring has something unique that makes it really difficult not to love and embrace its arrival. Temperatures rise, days expand, flowers start to bloom… Consequently, at the end of March, we start spending more time outdoors and, what does it mean? Perfect time for an olive snack!

Taking advantage of the beginning of spring, we present three ground-breaking appetizers with Olives from Spain. Three creative ideas to season olives the spring way, using fresh ingredients and the best of the Mediterranean cuisine:

Manzanilla olives with red vermouth

Flavour: Salty         Style: Classic        Season: Spring       Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

– Green Olives from Spain
– Orange
– Red Vermouth
– Celery
– Ginger
– Extra virgin olive oil
– Sherry vinegar

Elaboration:

Grate the ginger. In a bowl mix it with fresh orange juice, orange zest, the vermouth, a tablespoon of chopped celery, olive oil and vinegar. Mix it well using a rod. Afterwards, add the green olives and let marinate for a few minutes. Enjoy it with friends before lunch!

Green Olives from Spain with sautéed asparagus and parmesan cheese

Flavour: Salty         Style: Elegant        Season: Spring       Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

– Green olives
– Green asparagus
– Lime
– Fresh ginger
– Extra virgin olive oil
– Parmesan cheese

Elaboration:

Clean and peel the asparagus. Then, chop them forming uniform sticks and sauté them in a pan for a couple minutes. Once ready, pour them in a bowl and add salt, olive oil, the zest of ½ lime and the same proportion of ginger. Finally, incorporate the green olives and parmesan cheese and mix it all together. The best snack to enjoy with cold white wine and good company!

spring_season_olives_from_spain_

Black olives with camomile and fresh goat cheese

Flavour: Salty         Style: Fun        Season: Spring       Preparation time: 4 minutes

Ingredients:

– Black Olives from Spain
– Chive
– Peeled and chopped tomato
– Peeled and chopped spring onion
– Roasted pepper chopped
– Extra virgin olive oil
– Sherry vinegar
– Chamomile
– Grain mustard
– Fresh goat cheese in squares
– Salt

Elaboration:

Mix the vegetables with the chopped chive. Then, make a vinaigrette with the vinegar, oil, chamomile, mustard and salt. Mix the dressing with the veggies and the black olives. Finally, add the fresh goat cheese on top. Best time: while watching a movie!

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White towns route around Andalucía

April 8, 2019

There are two things that come to our mind if we think about the south of Spain: beautiful beaches and sunny days. But there is a hidden treasure if you want to enjoy nature and escape from crowded cities: The White Towns Route.

Situated in the National Park of Sierra de Grazalema you can find one of the best road trips in the south of Spain. Why are they called white towns? They take that name from the lime used to build the facade of the houses. The purpose was to repel the hot weather during the summer. Even when the sun is shining the walls are still cold!

The majority of these 19 towns are in the province of Cadiz, which has been recently included in the “52 places to go in 2019” according to The New York Times.  It is perfect for spending some days close to the coast and then visit some of these towns by car, as they are closed to each other. You will find plenty of opportunities to enjoy a good olive snack!

LOCATION

The location is one of the beauties of The White Towns as the Sierra de Grazalema is a Biosphere Reserve of the UNESCO. Due to the rainfall you can enjoy the views of caves, canyons and mountains.

zaharadelasierra

TRADITIONS

These towns are a reflection of how their citizens lived a long time ago, characterised by ancient architecture that combines elements of Moorish and Jewish culture. Their narrow streets were used to protect them from the sun, and they were specialised in the craftwork of leather and the cultivation of olives, a tradition that continues over time. Leather production is so important that many of the main producers of leather articles choose this area: Loewe, Cartier, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent…

GASTRONOMY

The gastronomy is also one of the principal attractions. The most famous dishes are stews made of beef, partridge, deer, wild boar, quail, and dishes with blood sausage and chorizo. All the recipes are cooked with olive oil, which has a certification of origin. However, if you want to enjoy a lighter appetizer, we recommend you try “Payoyo cheese” served with olives. This is an artisanal cheese made of Payoyo goat milk, and its taste is amazing!

Spanish Manchego cheese, Chorizo sausage and olives

Finally, we made a selection of some of our favourite White Towns: Medina Sidonia, Arcos de la Frontera, Grazalema, Vejer de la Frontera, and Zahara de la Sierra.

Don’t wait any longer and plan your route!

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The best Spanish tapas with Olives from Spain

April 8, 2019

There is no doubt that olives are the queen of tapas! In Spain, olives are usually served up along with drinks at bars and terraces, making them an essential part of the “tapeo” moment. However, you can also find particular tapas that include olives in their ingredients list.

Here you have four tapas’ recipes to enjoy Olives from Spain in a different, yet Mediterranean, way!

Gordal and Hojiblanca olive skewers

Ingredients:

– Gordal Olives from Spain
– Black olives from Spain
– Candied tomatoes
– 4 slices of Spanish ham
– 100 g of Manchego cheese

Elaboration:

Start by cutting the Manchego cheese into cubes and rolling the ham slices. Finally, assemble the olives, tomatoes, ham slices and cheese on wooden sticks. Easy as that!

Skewers_de_la_casa_olives_

Olives from Spain and “pan tumaca”

Ingredients:

– Green Olives from Spain
– 100 g of tomato
– 6 basil leaves
– 4 baguette slices
– Manchego cheese
– 50 ml of extra virgin olive oil
– Sea salt and black pepper

Elaboration:

First, deseed and chop the tomato into small dices. Do the same with the green olives. Afterwards, mix the chopped tomato and olives with salt, pepper and Manchego cheese. Toast the baguette slices and pour a dash of olive oil on each one. To finish, put the mixture on top of the bread and garnish with basil leaves. Drizzle the rest of extra virgin olive oil on top.

pan_tumaca_

“Pincho” of Spanish omelette with olives

Ingredients:

– Pimiento-stuffed Gordal Olives from Spain
– 3 Eggs
– 4 Medium Potatoes
– 1 Medium Onions
– Sea salt
– Olive oil

Elaboration:

Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut both potatoes and onions into thin slices. Then, heat a frying pan with plenty of olive oil (enough to cover the potatoes) and add them along with the onions.

Remove the potatoes and onions when they start turning golden brown. Place them in a strainer to drain off the extra oil and set aside in a plate over paper towel. Meanwhile, cut the pimiento-stuffed Gordal Olives into slices. In a separate bowl beat the eggs, and then add the sliced Olives, and the potatoes. Mix well and add salt to taste.

Return the pan to the heat with two tablespoons of olive oil. Add the egg mix, olives and potatoes and turn down to low heat. To prevent the tortilla from sticking move the pan in a circular motion. Flip it with the help of a flat lid when it begins to bubble.

Once ready, place it on a plate and cut into cube pieces. Enjoy it with a cold beer!

spanish_tortilla_

Aubergine paté

Ingredients:

– 150g Pitted Manzanilla olives
– 150g Hojiblanca olives
– 20g Gordal olives stuffed with peppers
– 1 small garlic clove
– 2 tsp of tahini
– 40 g of olive oil
– ¼ tsp of ground cumin
– ½ lemon juice
– ¼ red onion, diced
– Coriander
–  1 aubergine
– Salt and pepper
– Sesame seeds

Elaboration:

Wrap the aubergine in tin foil and bake for 45 minutes at 180ºC. Once baked and soft, peel it. Then, add it to a blender with the black and green Manzanilla olives and the rest of ingredients. Blend until a uniform paste is formed.

Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix the diced red onion, the Gordal olives, lemon zest and olive oil and mix it all together. Add this mixture of Olives from Spain to the aubergine paté. Finally, put some coriander and sesame seeds on top.

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Spanish Easter Traditions

April 8, 2019

In Spain, Easter is a very celebrated holiday, so Spaniards have a lot of traditions. You will discover that some of these customs take place in different parts of the country, as Holy Week is celebrated and tasted differently in each part of Spain due to its huge cultural diversity. Moreover, the family also plays a very important role during Easter and Spanish people take every little chance to spend time together and have a great time.

Today, we are going to talk about the most famous Spanish Easter traditions, especially gastronomic ones, that we can enjoy during Holy Week. Grab some olives and keep reading!

Semana Santa

When the Holy Week is celebrated in Spain there are a lot of processions, each one symbolizing each biblical stage Jesus had to go through his last days. This is a religious tradition that is done in almost every city and town through Spain, especially in Sevilla, Andalucía. Here is very typical the “Viernes Santo”, or Holy Friday, in which is commemorated Jesus’s crucifixion.

Gastronomic delicacies

Eggs

As everyone knows, one of the more symbolic elements of Easter are the eggs, and of course in Spain, we also have some traditions related to eggs.

The first one is eating the “Mona de Pascua”, a dessert that is typically eaten during these days, especially in Cataluña, Valencia and the Mediterranean part of Spain. Traditionally they were biscuits baked on the oven, made from flour, eggs and sugar. Moreover, the Mona has one or two boiled eggs on the top. Nowadays they usually have some chocolate on the top and sometimes eggs are made of chocolate.

On the other hand, while eating the Mona, it is typical to break a boiled egg in someone’s forehead. This is a very funny tradition that most Spaniards enjoy.

spanish-easter-traditions-mona-pascua

Torrijas

“Torrijas”, also known as French toasts, are a must in every Spanish table during Holy Week. This gastronomic tradition comes from the 15th century when the nuns prepared it during the strict Lent season to take advantage of the leftover bread. The recipe was very simple with a high energy contribution in order to compensate the fast. Its recipe usually involves bread, milk, eggs, cinnamon, citrus and sugar.

spain-easter-torrijas

Pestiño

The Pestiño is a typical sweet from Andalusia usually eaten during Holy Week and Christmas. As a consequence, this dessert is very difficult to find any other time of the year! The traditional recipe includes flour, olive oil, lard, anise, citrus and honey.

Longaniza de Pascua

Another common food eaten during Easter in Spain is the “Longaniza de Pascua”. It is a type of sausage, quite salty and hard to chew, that is normally eaten in Valencia along with the “Mona de Pascua”.

spanish-easter-traditions

Flying the kite

It is typical of the Holy Monday, to go to the countryside with the family to spend the day. In this trip to the countryside is also characteristic to go walking and go trekking as usually, the weather is good enough. Spaniards also take the chance to fly the kite, play with the kids, and spend quality time with their families.

spanish-easter-traditions

Apart from eating, Spaniards take advantage of these holidays to see processions, because for many it is a period of religious tradition. Furthermore, it is also the perfect time to go to the countryside with the family and have some rest.

 

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Three places you need to go during Easter holidays

April 8, 2019

Easter holidays are perfect to enjoy blue skies and warm weather, meaning there is nothing better than visiting Spain! You can enjoy the Spanish traditions celebrated during the Holy Week. Colourful streets and delicious dishes that will make you fall in love with the Mediterranean lifestyle.

Sevilla

Sevilla is one of the best choices if you want to enjoy the Spanish traditions. It is located in the south of Spain and it is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalucía.

The Holy Week of Sevilla is well-known all over the country, being one of the city’s two biggest annual festivals, the other being “Feria de Abril”. During this festivity, there are many processions where images of Jesus Christ and the Virgin are represented using wooden or wax sculptures. These are carried by the “hermandades” and “cofradías”, which are religious brotherhoods.

During this week, the streets are full of music, colourful decoration and people enjoying the terraces and the delicious Spanish tapas, as Olives from Spain, which are typical from Sevilla.

places-easter-holidays-spain

Valencia

The Holy Week celebration in Valencia is called “Semana Santa Marinera”, which is translated to “Maritim Holy Week”. The reason is that this festivity takes place in neighbourhoods next to the Mediterranean Sea. For the processions, it is typical to represent scenes of the life of Jesus Christ while traditional music is being played.

Moreover, the city of Valencia is perfect for walking around the city centre because it is quite small. So, there is no need to take any transport to visit the main tourist attractions. And, once you are tired, you can go close to the coast and order a delicious paella!

However, if what you are looking for is spending some days far from the crowded cities you can visit the towns around Valencia. You can go hiking and enjoy the peace of nature with your family and friends.

valencia-easter-holidays

Toledo

Toledo has a beautiful old town with more than 100 monuments. It is known as the “city of the three cultures”, as Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in the city for centuries. Moreover, it was the principal court of King Carlos I of Spain. Know all the traditions and legends while enjoying city tours around the entangled and narrow streets.

This city is perfect for people who are looking for a quiet trip. The Holy Week of Toledo is celebrated in a different way. Far from the splendorous processions of Sevilla, in Toledo, these celebrations are more austere and quieter.

However, its gastronomy is nothing but flavourful. Due to the cold weather in winter, one of the most common and famous dishes is a good filling stew. Try the partridge stew and chickpeas stew with vegetables and different types of meat. And if you want a sweet bite to try the famous marzipan from Toledo. You won’t regret it!

Toledo-easter-holidays