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I'm obsessed with Barcelona, Spain. Or perhaps, more specifically, I'm obsessed with its food! I've been twice in the past 3 years (and have another trip planned in April!), and aftereach 9-hour flight, my very first stop is La Boqueria.
At this point, it's become a tradition, which my foodie-loving daughter happily shares with me. Why La Boqueria? Simply because the markethas themost amazing variety of fresh food offerings, from fruits and veggies, to meats (don't leave without sampling Jamon Iberico!), seafood and other Spanish delicacies— it's a feast for the senses!
In the interior of themarket, you'll find barswith the most incredibleSpanish tapas. It's these small plates of food that make me want to return to Spain again and again. Noshing on tapas in Spain is the equivalent of enjoyinggelato in Italy — there's nowhere else in the world quite like it!
With that being said, I still like to create some of the flavors of my travels at home, to enjoy with my family whenever we feel like. Tapas are great for dinner, get-togethers or even just as a snack with a glass of wine. Some of my favorite tapas recipes are the most simple, using Olives from Spain.
As an olive lover, there isn't any particular variety that I'd pass up, but there is something special about the flavor of Olives from Spain. Here's somefacts about Olives from Spain.
Most olivesconsumed inthe U.S. areOlives fromSpain.The United States is themain destination of Olives from Spain, importing morethan 155 million lbs., worth more than $205 million.
Olives from Spain are a naturally sugar-free food and contain monounsaturated fats, which can improve cholesterol levels in the blood and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Spain’s sunny weather, temperate winters and rich, fertile soil are idyllic for growing the perfect olive. The olives are carefully hand-picked one by one to avoid damaging the fruit. The main olive growing regions in Spain are Andalusia and Extremadura.
Sweet, salty, bitter and sour, Olives from Spain are extremelyversatile in cooking pizzas, salads, pastas, rice, meat, fish,co*cktails and stews.
And did you know that green and black olives are the same variety, the only difference it their color at the point that they are harvested?
Green olives are harvested at their optimum ripening period for a smoked flavor. Semi-ripe olives have an attractive pinkish, wine-colored hue. Ripe olives are harvested just before or when they are completely ripe.
Ripe Black olives are harvested before they ripen, and are specially treated for their color and to eliminate bitterness. Once fully processed, the Ripe Black olive is both mild and subdued and has a light, versatile flavor
Here's two, super easy, two-minute tapas recipes made with Olives from Spain: Black Olive Tapenade & Green Olive Hummus.
Black Olive Tapenade Recipe
Black Olive Tapenade Ingredients:
1 cup of Black olives from Spain
1 tablespoon capers
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
How to Make Black Olive Tapenade
Add all ingredients in a food processor or blender, pulsing until olives are chopped and ingredients are combined. This is for a chunky consistency. You could also puree until smooth.
Green Olive Hummus Recipe
Green Olive Hummus Ingredients:
One 15-ounce can garbanzo beans
¼ cup tahini
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tablespoongarlic, minced
8green Olives from Spain
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
How to Make Green Olive Hummus
Add all ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Drizzle with additional olive oil if desired.
About Olives from Spain
Spain has such a rich history that is linked to olives – with trees for table olives growing in the country since the 1st century. There is a wide range of varieties, types and forms of presentation. Spain is the leader in table olive production and exports, with the most modern industry in the world leading to the highest food safety and quality standards.
Olives from Spain are more versatile than olives from any other region – get creative, and find out why they can add life to any party.Be sure to look for the Olives From Spain logo, to ensure you are getting the highest quality olives and taste the difference for yourself.
Compensation was provided by Olives from Spain via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Olives from Spain or Momtrends.
We usually serve them as a snack for a drink or on top of salads, but olives shouldn't be eaten just for the taste. Did you know that experts recommend eating a small handful of olives a day? Eating just 7 olives each day is really good for you!
As mentioned before, its unique curing process paves the way for a remarkable flavor profile. Unlike other table olives, which often offer tart and pungent flavors, the Castelvetrano olive is characterized by a natural buttery and creamy flavor, complemented by a mild brininess.
Compared with olives, olive oil is far lower in sodium. It's also a more concentrated source of fat, as it lacks fiber and other nutrients. One serving of olive oil is about one tablespoon and provides 120 calories, all of them from fat. Both olives and olive oil are high in polyphenols and antioxidants, however.
In short, consider the numerous risk reductions and preventions that two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil a day provide: Prevents blood clots. Reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. Reduces sugar levels.
Compared to butter and margarine, olive oil spreads contain less saturated fat and more monounsaturated fat, which is known to help lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health. In addition, they are a rich source of antioxidants, which can protect against inflammation and oxidative damage.
“Generally, you can replace butter with oil in an even 1-to-1 ratio,” says Rasmussen. Just know that olive oil tends to give baked goods a strong flavor, especially if you use extra virgin olive oil, the least processed and most flavorful variety.
One can eat olives at any time of the day. However, they are rich in healthy fats. Therefore one can eat them before bedtime if one wishes to have a healthy nighttime snack. In addition, they balance blood sugar, help you feel fuller, and aid in a good night's sleep.
The people of the Mediterranean eat a lot of olive oil, sometimes as high as 30% of their daily calories. Lubricating the system can be very helpful to get the bowels moving. Of course, olives are good too as you get both the oil and the fiber of the olive fruit.
Even though olives are generally high in sodium, kalamata olives are good for you because they're a nutritional powerhouse loaded with micro- and macronutrients, including: Iron. Calcium.
Olives provide many health benefits, but they are still relatively high in fat. Canned olives are often packed in brine, which makes them high in sodium (salt). Just one green olive contains 62.4 milligrams of sodium, so salt content can add up quickly.
Dogs can eat olives in moderation. They contain many vitamins and minerals important for human health, though dogs fed a complete and balanced diet don't need these additional nutrients. However, plain, unsalted olives can be a healthy snack for your pup.
11 Pounds of Olives = 1 Quart of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
You read that correctly – 11 POUNDS of freshly picked olives are needed to produce just one quart (32 ounces) of extra virgin olive oil. To further put that into perspective, most mature olive trees will only produce 33-44 pounds of olives each growing season.
A mature olive tree will produce only 15 to 20 kilograms (33 to 44 pounds) of olives each year. Since it takes about five kilograms of olives to make a liter of oil, one tree is capable of producing only about three to four liters of oil per year—a small output by any measure.
Moderation is key to healthy olive oil intake. The Food and Drug Administration recommends daily consumption of just 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil to reduce the risk of heart disease. If you are already eating a balanced diet that includes olive oil, drinking it straight won't provide any health benefits.
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