They're the ideal nibble to have with drinks – and if you haven't tried stuffed and deep-fried Olives All'ascolana, you really need to. But there are so many ways other to put these salty orbs to use in the kitchen. Use them to pep up pasta, add a few to your focaccia, liven up summery soups – or keep to tradition, and use olives in Toni Buxton's Greek-style Beef Stifado, or Paula Wolfert's Moroccan Fish Tagine.