Italian Olive Cheese Spread (Printable)
A creamy blend of Italian cheeses, olives, and herbs ready in 10 minutes for any occasion.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Cheese & Dairy
01 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
02 - 2 oz mascarpone cheese
03 - 2 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Olives
04 - 1/2 cup green olives, pitted and finely chopped
05 - 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and finely chopped
→ Flavorings & Seasonings
06 - 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced
08 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
09 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
10 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
11 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, mascarpone, and Parmesan. Stir until the mixture is smooth and uniformly creamy.
02 - Add the chopped green and black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, parsley, olive oil, and red pepper flakes if desired. Fold everything into the cheese base until evenly distributed.
03 - Season with freshly ground black pepper, adjusting the quantity to your preference.
04 - Transfer the spread to a serving dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
05 - Serve chilled or at room temperature alongside crusty bread, crostini, or crackers.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It comes together in ten minutes with zero cooking, which means you can make it while your guests are literally walking through the door.
- The combination of cream cheese and mascarpone creates a silky base that feels far more luxurious than any store bought spread.
02 -
- Do not skip the chilling step because the spread needs that time for the garlic and herbs to soften and bloom into the cheese base.
- Using pre grated Parmesan once left me with a grainy, dull result that taught me to always grate from a block.
03 -
- Chop the olives to roughly the same size so every bite gets a balanced hit of brine rather than one overwhelming chunk.
- If your cream cheese is cold and stubborn, give it twenty seconds in the microwave and it will soften without melting.