Olives are one of those foods you can combine with practically everything and which add a unique flavour and distinct aroma to a special dish. They can be used whole, cut into slices or even blended to prepare the ever-popular olive paste. Whether incorporated into a dish or served on the side, one thing is certain: they add a gourmet touch to any dish. 

Aside from main dishes, olives can also be used as a side dish. Here are some ideas:

• Dip with chopped green olives and lentils

• Feta cheese with infused fresh olive oil, capers and olives

• Shortcrust cheese pies with olives

• Home-made bread sticks with olive paste or sun-dried olive paste

• Bruschetta with grilled olives

• Bruschetta with artichokes and olives

• Greek muffins with olives and feta cheese

• Palmiers with olive paste

Some innovative as well as basic ideas for including olives in our diet are:

• Braided puff pastry with feta cheese, olive paste and Florina peppers

• Savoury cake with olives, sun-dried tomato, onions and yoghurt

• Octopus with green olives, onions, Mavrodafni wine and lemon juice

• Chicken fillets with olives and peppers

• Sandwiches with whole wheat bread, feta cheese, olives and tomato

• Olive bread

• Greek salad with olives

• Potato stew with olives

• Rolled olive pie

• Batter-fried olives

• Pork tenderloin with green olives

• Short-finned squid in tomato sauce with crushed green olives

• Painted comber in tomato sauce with green olives

• Rabbit with artichokes and olives

• Cuttlefish with fennel and green olives

• Mediterranean whole wheat galette with olives

• Mediterranean octopus stew with olives

• Farfalle with tuna, olives and capers