Because of their distinctive and delicious flavour olives are both used on their own as a standout ingredient and to boost flavour in a wide variety of dishes. Chefs also love them because they perform well in dishes that require no cooking (in fresh dishes like salads) and those that need hours in the oven.

Here are some of the more common things to serve them with.

Drinks: Serving a bowl of olives as an ‘aperitivo’ with a drink is a classic Spanish tradition. They go well with wine, beer and soft drinks. And for the more glamorous, don’t forget an olive in your Martini!

Tapas: It would very unusual to see a spread of tapas dishes without any olives. They are generally served in brine (salt water) on their own or marinated in herbs, or in sauces with other ingredients.

Salads: Olives are a common salad ingredient because of their freshness and natural characteristics. They go especially well in Mediterranean-style salads with other strong tasting ingredients like tuna, onions, anchovies and capsicums.

Cold meats: Cold meat selections are a favourite across the globe and olives are a great accompaniment because they bring out the flavour of the meats. They go well with cold and cured hams, beef, poultry and salamis. Diced, they are great with marinated and ‘cerviche-style’ cold fish fillets.

Pizza: Few pizzas are not improved with the addition of olives! Whole or sliced, black and green, they always bring a traditional flavour to pizza and baked savoury pies.

Roasts / casseroles / tagines: These kinds of slow-cooked dishes are internationally popular and olives are frequently added to give them a touch of the Mediterranean! They work well with both fish and meat including pork, lamb, beef and poultry as well as the other base ingredients commonly used, such as tomato, onion and garlic.

Pasta: Because olives are quick and easy to work with – they are often a pantry staple - and regularly appear in tomato-based pasta sauces to give extra flavour. They can be added whole, to give a delicious burst of taste, or chopped up to enhance the other ingredients.

Of course there are many other things that olives can be served with too, so why don’t you open a jar and experiment today!