Also known as

Deseeded olives.

Description

An olive that has had its pit or stone removed is termed as pitted olives in culinary terms. They are generally stuffed with an ingredient such as a pimiento, jalapeno, dried tomato, garlic or onion. Olives can be pitted in small quantities at home by crushing an olive against the side of a chef's knife. This forces the hard pit to be ejected from the olive. Another method used to pit olives in small amounts is the olive pitter or stoner. These contraptions hold the olive in a ring and the two handles are squeezed together. At the end of one handle is the ring holding the olive, and the other handle terminates in the shaft. This shaft moves into the center of the olive, and pushes out the pit through the hole in the ring. These devices are also called cherry stoners or pitters. The fruit remains intact and pitless. The pitted green olive is the perfect companion for your aperitive or any of your colored dishes.

Pitted green olives- Green olives are the ones which are picked when they are immature and then prepared by curing and pitting.

Pitted black olives- Black olives are picked from the plant after maturity and hence develop the characteristic black colour. Black pitted olives are best served on salads or as pizza topping for their appealing looks.

How to select

Pitted olives are readily available bottled in brine solutions at stores. The olives can also be easily pitted at home with pitter, an instrument which is available at most gourmet stores. While buying bottled or canned pitted olives, watch out for any discoloration, moldy growth near the bottle rim or any presence of bubbles inside the bottles. These signs indicate spoilage and hence should be avoided.

Culinary Uses

1.Gourmets from the Roman empire to the present day have valued the unripe pitted olive fruit, steeped in brine, as challenging to the palate
2. The pitted olives find place on pizza, pasta, canapes and even in cocktail drinks. They are sour and salty and slightly bitter. In its raw state, the olive is not edible. It has to be soaked in brine or undergo some other form of curing in order to make it palatable.
3. Add a natural richness and depth of flavor to all your favorite sauces, soups, stews, rice and pasta dishes, stir-fry by adding pitted olive. Set out a small plate of olives on the dinner table along with some vegetable crudités for your family to enjoy with the meal.
4. Olive tapenade is a delicious and easy-to-make spread that you can use as a dip, sandwich spread, or topping for fish and poultry. To make it, put pitted olives in a food processor with olive oil, garlic, and your favorite seasonings.
5. Pitted olives are best enjoyed with cocktails as appertif
6. Pitted olives make a zesty addition to salads, meat and poultry dishes

How to store

Pitted Olives will keep freshest if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Health benefits

1. Olives are high in monounsaturated fat, iron, Vitamin E and dietary fiber
2. Naturally ripened purple/black appearing olives contain anthocyanins. This does not include artificially ripened "black olives" that are frequently canned and sent to grocery stores.