In the realm of Italian cuisine, olives take center stage as delectable delicacies that have been cherished for centuries. These gems of the Mediterranean are carefully cultivated in various regions across Italy, each boasting unique characteristics and flavors. From the plump, meaty orbs of Castelvetrano olives to the briny, tangy notes of Gaeta olives, the diversity of Italian olives is a testament to the country's rich culinary heritage. This article presents a culinary journey through the world of Italian olives, offering a collection of tantalizing recipes that showcase their versatility and exquisite taste. Included are delectable dishes such as the savory Olive Bruschetta, sure to delight with its vibrant combination of flavors, and the aromatic Olive Oil Cake, a symphony of moist crumb and citrus zest. For a taste of traditional Italian fare, try the hearty Tuscan Ribollita Soup, where olives lend a distinctive savoriness. If you crave something more decadent, the Olive Tapenade will fulfill your desires with its rich, creamy texture and intense olive flavor. Embark on this culinary adventure and discover the diverse culinary expressions of Italian olives.
Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!
ITALIAN OLIVES
A friend shared this recipe with me more than 25 years ago, and I still get raves when I serve them as part of an antipasto platter. -Jean Johnson, Reno, Nevada
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Appetizers
Time 10m
Yield 4 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, garlic, basil, oregano, pepper flakes and salt; pour over olive mixture; toss to coat. , Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 30 calories, Fat 3g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 167mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.
ARTICHOKES, CAPERS, OLIVES, LEMON ZEST, AND ITALIAN TUNA ON PASTA SHELLS
Steps:
- In a 10-quart pot, bring the water to a brisk boil. Add salt and stir in the pasta shells. When the water returns to a boil, begin timing and cook al dente according to the package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta, but do not rinse. Transfer the shells to a large serving bowl. Stir in the reserved pasta water to keep the pasta from sticking to itself. Pasta continues to cook and absorb water even when it has been drained. Add in the salsa cruda ingredients and toss. Garnish with chopped parsley leaves.
- Preparation time: 10 minutes; cooking time: 15 minutes
FOCACCIA BARESE AL POMODORO E OLIVE (HOMEMADE ITALIAN FOCACCIA WITH TOMATOES AND OLIVES)
How do you get soft focaccia? The Italian secret is to add one potato to the dough. This foolproof traditional recipe will become the only one you ever need!
Provided by Alemarsi
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Flat Bread Recipes
Time 3h30m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place potato into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water.
- Peel potato; mash in a large bowl with a fork. Pour in flour and mix well with your fingertips. Rub together until mixture is even and free of lumps.
- Combine 1 cup water, yeast, and sugar in a bowl. Mix well and let stand until frothy, about 5 minutes. Stir in 5 tablespoons olive oil.
- Pour yeast mixture over flour mixture; mix, adding remaining 1 cup water a little at a time, until a soft dough forms. Mix in 1 tablespoon salt.
- Knead dough on a clean work surface until smooth and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 2 hours.
- Grease a large rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place dough on the baking sheet; stretch into the corners. Arrange tomatoes and olives over dough.
- Mix remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 tablespoons water together in a bowl. Brush mixture over dough. Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon salt on top. Cover with a damp cloth; let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Bake focaccia on the lower rack of the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Lift up with a fork to check bottom is golden brown. Transfer to the middle rack and bake until top is golden, 10 to 15 minutes more. Sprinkle oregano on top.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 385.8 calories, Carbohydrate 58.9 g, Fat 12.3 g, Fiber 4 g, Protein 10 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 1295.7 mg, Sugar 3.7 g
AMEILIA'S ITALIAN STUFFED OLIVES
An Italian side dish of colossal green olives stuffed with pork and chicken. You won't find these in Italian restaurants because they are labor intensive, but well worth it for special occasions. A family favorite - requirement actually - for a real Italian Christmas dinner.
Provided by DAISYDOODLE1
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Vegetable Olives
Time 3h20m
Yield 50
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Heat olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Cook and stir celery, onion, and garlic in hot oil until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add pork and chicken and cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Combine tomato puree and tomato paste with 1 cup water, and add to meat mixture. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours, or until pork and chicken are falling off the bone. Remove meat from the pot to cool, and set sauce aside.
- Meanwhile, remove olive pits using a special olive pitting tool. Make a slit in one side of each olive large enough to insert stuffing.
- Once cooled, remove pork and chicken meat from the bones, and mince. Mix together with 2 beaten eggs, Parmesan cheese, ground nutmeg, lemon zest, and 1/4 cup of reserved sauce. Use more or less sauce as needed so that meat mixture is moist, but not too wet.
- Fill each olive with enough stuffing so that a small amount is pushing out of the slit. Dip each stuffed olive in flour, then beaten egg, then bread crumbs. Stuffed olives may be frozen in an air-tight container at this point until ready to use.
- Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Fry olives in hot oil for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown on the outside. Serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 226.3 calories, Carbohydrate 5.8 g, Cholesterol 13.8 mg, Fat 21.5 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 3.6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 431.8 mg, Sugar 1.4 g
ITALIAN SAUTéED OLIVES
Ready in 15 minutes, spicy and salty olives are a hard-to-resist snack at any gathering.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Snack
Time 15m
Yield 20
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook parsley, onion, red pepper and garlic in oil about 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic just begins to become golden brown.
- Stir in olives. Cover and cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until olives are tender and skins begin to wrinkle.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 50, Carbohydrate 2 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 1 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 300 mg
ITALIAN BREAD SALAD WITH OLIVES
This quick and flavorful bread salad always gets rave reviews from my friends and family. This panzanella-style dish is a timesaver during the holidays, as it can be made ahead. Just keep the bread cubes separate and add them right before serving. -Angela Spengler, Niceville, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch Side Dishes
Time 30m
Yield 9 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Place bread cubes in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix oil, garlic and pepper; drizzle 3 tablespoons over bread and toss to coat. Reserve remaining oil mixture. Spread in a single layer on two 15x10x1-in. baking pans., Bake until crisp and light brown, 12-18 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, whisk vinegar and salt into reserved oil mixture. Add tomatoes, olives and herbs; toss to coat., Cool bread cubes slightly. Add to tomato mixture; toss to combine. Sprinkle with cheese; serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 316 calories, Fat 21g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 345mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
ITALIAN FRIED OLIVES
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories appetizer
Time 9m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Special equipment: a pastry bag, a plain tip with a 1/4-inch opening
- In a small bowl, combine the cheeses, thyme, and lemon zest. Place the cheese mixture into the pastry bag. Pipe the cheese mixture into each olive.
- Place the flour in a small bowl. Pour the beaten egg in another small bowl and the bread crumbs in a third small bowl. Dredge the olives in the flour. Using a slotted spoon, remove the olives and place in the bowl with the beaten egg. Coat the olives with the egg and transfer to the bowl of bread crumbs. Coat the olives with the bread crumbs.
- In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about 1/3of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in a couple of minutes.) Fry the olives, in batches, for 30 to 45 seconds until golden brown. Drain the fried olives on paper towels. Cool for 5 minutes.
AIR-FRYER ITALIAN BREAD SALAD WITH OLIVES
This quick and flavorful salad recipe always gets rave reviews from my friends and family. It's a timesaver during the holidays, as it can be made ahead. -Angela Spengler, Niceville, FL
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch Side Dishes
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat air-fryer to 350°. Place bread cubes in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix oil, garlic and pepper; drizzle 2 tablespoons over bread and toss to coat. Reserve remaining oil mixture., Place bread cubes on greased tray in air-fryer basket. Cook until crisp and light brown, 7-9 minutes, stirring occasionally., Meanwhile, whisk vinegar and salt into reserved oil mixture. Add tomatoes, olives and herbs; toss to coat. Cool bread cubes slightly. Add to tomato mixture; toss to combine. Sprinkle with cheese; serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 308 calories, Fat 21g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 2mg cholesterol, Sodium 365mg sodium, Carbohydrate 26g carbohydrate (6g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
ITALIAN SPICED OLIVES
Make and share this Italian Spiced Olives recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Diana Adcock
Categories Fruit
Time 5m
Yield 1 jar
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine all ingredients except oil in a clean jar-shake gently, top with olive oil, shake again and store in the fridge for up to 1 month.
CHICKEN WITH CAPERS AND ITALIAN OLIVES
Very common in Southern Italy, spicy but not in terms of heat, just a great flavor with the capers and olives.
Provided by Timothy H.
Categories Chicken Thigh & Leg
Time 55m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper to taste. Heat a non-stick frying pan and add oil. Brown both sides and remove. Transfer to a 4-6 quart pot. Add the remaining ingredients, Except Cream. Bring to a simmer. Cook covered for 40 minutes.
- Remove the chicken to a warm platter. Add the cream to the pot simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce and thicken. Salt and pepper to taste, pour sauce over chicken. Serve, garnish with Parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 467.4, Fat 37.9, SaturatedFat 13.8, Cholesterol 159.7, Sodium 389.7, Carbohydrate 2.9, Fiber 0.6, Sugar 0.4, Protein 25.5
Tips:
- Select the right olives: Choose firm and plump olives with no blemishes or bruises. Look for olives that are a deep purple or black color, as these are typically more flavorful.
- Prepare the olives properly: Rinse the olives thoroughly in cold water before using. If using fresh olives, you may need to soak them in water for several hours or overnight to remove the bitterness.
- Use a variety of herbs and spices: Italian olives are typically seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices, such as garlic, rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Experiment with different combinations to find your favorite flavor profile.
- Marinate the olives: Marinating the olives in a mixture of olive oil, herbs, and spices for several hours or overnight will help to infuse them with flavor.
- Cook the olives properly: If you are cooking the olives, be careful not to overcook them, as this will make them tough. Olives should be cooked until they are just tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Conclusion:
Making Italian olives at home is a great way to enjoy this delicious and versatile ingredient. With a little planning and effort, you can create your own unique and flavorful olives that will be a hit with your family and friends. Whether you are using them as a snack, an appetizer, or an ingredient in your favorite dishes, Italian olives are sure to add a touch of authentic Italian flavor to your meals.
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