Italian Olive Cheese Spread (Printable)
Creamy blend of Italian cheeses, briny olives, and fresh herbs ready in 10 minutes for crostini and crackers.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cheeses
01 - 4.2 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
02 - 3.5 oz ricotta cheese
03 - 2.1 oz grated Parmesan cheese
→ Olives & Vegetables
04 - 3.5 oz mixed Italian olives (green and black), pitted and finely chopped
05 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
06 - 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons roasted red peppers, finely chopped (optional)
→ Flavorings
08 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - Salt to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, ricotta, and grated Parmesan. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy with no lumps remaining.
02 - Gently fold the chopped olives, sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, and roasted red peppers into the cheese mixture until evenly distributed.
03 - Add the olive oil, fresh basil, parsley, dried oregano, black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Stir thoroughly until all seasonings are fully incorporated.
04 - Mix everything together one final time, tasting and adjusting salt and pepper as needed to balance the flavors.
05 - Transfer the spread to a serving dish, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
06 - Arrange on a platter with toasted baguette slices, crackers, or fresh vegetable sticks such as celery and carrot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It comes together in ten minutes flat with zero cooking, which makes it the ultimate emergency appetizer when guests show up early.
- The combination of briny olives, rich cheese, and fresh herbs tastes like something you would find at a tiny trattoria, not something you threw together in your kitchen on a Tuesday.
02 -
- Under softened cream cheese will leave you with unpleasant lumps that no amount of stirring can fix, so plan ahead and let it warm to room temperature.
- Chilling the spread for thirty minutes before serving transforms it from good to genuinely special, as the olive brine and herbs permeate the cheese in a way they simply cannot at room temperature.
03 -
- Pit the olives yourself rather than buying pre pitted for noticeably better flavor and texture, since pre pitted olives tend to be mushy and bland.
- Finely chopping everything by hand rather than using a food processor preserves the appealing chunky texture that makes each bite interesting.