Can I use green olives for fig and olive chutney? | Ask Nigella.com

Our response

Nigella’s Fig and Olive Chutney (from NIGELLISSIMA) is much quicker and easier to make than more traditional chutneys and makes a great last minute Christmas gift. The recipe uses dried figs and dried (or dry-packed) black olives, along with marsala, vinegar and sugar.

Dried black olives are those that are not in brine and are mainly sold in sealed bags or vacuum-packed in jars. They are sometimes labeled as “salt-dried” or “oil-dried” olives. The olives are much more wrinkled and drier than other types of olives and have an intense, salty flavor. Unfortunately, if you use green olives, it will affect the taste of the chutney, as green olives tend to be less salty and more acidic. Additionally, they contain more water than dry black olives and the chutney will take longer to cook. So we suggest you try to find dry black olives for chutney. These are sold in many supermarkets in the UK and US and usually available online in other areas.