INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
*La Española Gourmet Manzanilla
What are manzanilla olives?
Manzanilla olives are dual-purpose olives that are harvested for both table olives and olive oil production.
Origins
Manzanilla olives originally come from the Andalusian province of Seville. They are harvested from the manzanillo olive tree and are sometimes referred to as Spanish Olives along with a number of similar varieties such as Arbequina, Arbesana, Cacereña, or Empeltre.
Flavor
In their fruit form, Manzanilla olives have a bitter and nutty taste and are often served as a tabletop aperitif during mealtimes in Spain. When used to make olive oil, they offer a rich, pleasantly bitter flavor with hints of almond and apple. Although it can be used to cook a variety of dishes, its flavor truly comes to the fore in salad recipes and soup dishes.
How to Dress a Salad
Now that you’re up to speed on the olives used to make La Española Gourmet Extra Virgin Olive Oil, let’s look at the subtle art of dressing a salad.
- Gather your ingredients in a large salad bowl.
- Add La Española Gourmet Extra Virgin Olive Oil to the ingredients. Chef’s Tip: Slowly drizzle the oil over the salad until it coats all the ingredients, as adding too much oil will change the texture of your salad.
- Once a coat has been formed over the ingredients, add a splash of vinegar. Not sure which vinegar to use? Check out La Española’s gourmet range of quality vinegars.
Season your salad with pepper, sea salt, and herbs according to your preference.
Best Salad Ingredients
When it comes to delicious salad recipes, the sky is well and truly the limit! Salads are versatile dishes that give you the opportunity to up your vegetable intake. Here are some of the most popular ingredients to build your salad around.
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Rocket
- Avocado
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Caper
- Olives
- Pickles
- Onion
- Beets
- Pomegranate
- Berries
Ingredients for Seasoning Salads
No salad would be complete without some fresh herbs and spices for seasoning. Here’s a handy guide to herbs and spices that will help you amp up the flavor of your meals.
- Oregano: This delightfully refreshing herb pairs wonderfully with tomatoes and a variety of cheeses.
- Parsley: Earthy with peppery notes, parsley melds beautifully with extra virgin olive oil in salads.
- Rosemary: This earthy-flavored herb has hints of lemon and mint.
- Basil: With a strong, unique flavor, basil takes salad recipes up a notch. Pair with tomato, garlic, and lemon for best results.
- Cilantro: With a pungent taste and lemony notes, cilantro works wonders in spicy salad dishes.
- Thyme: A sweet herb with a spicy kick, add it to a lentil and tomato salad recipe and marvel at the results.
- Lemongrass: Floral and tangy in flavor, it goes well in fruity salads, among others.
- Turmeric: Smoky in flavor, turmeric goes well in salads with lentils, couscous, and rice.
- Paprika: In its smoked form, paprika adds a new dimension to chicken salad recipes.
If you’re looking for more tips on how to take your home-cooked meals to the next level, be sure to check out our post on How to Cook Like a Chef Using Olive Oil.