Italian Olive Cheese Spread (Printable Version)
Creamy blend of cheeses, olives, and herbs inspired by Italian antipasti traditions.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
07 - 2 tbsp roasted red peppers, finely chopped (optional)
→ Flavorings
08 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
10 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
11 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
13 - Salt to taste
# How to Make:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened 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 throughout the spread.
04 - Transfer the spread to a serving dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
05 - Present the spread with toasted baguette slices, assorted crackers, or fresh vegetable sticks for dipping.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It takes ten minutes and zero cooking, which means you can pull it together while guests are literally walking through the door.
- The contrast of creamy cheese and briny olives hits that magical spot between rich and bright that keeps people hovering over the bowl.
02 -
- Skipping the chill time is fine in a rush, but the spread tastes remarkably deeper after even a short rest in the refrigerator.
- Under-ripe or overly salty olives will throw off the entire balance, so taste one before you commit to chopping the whole batch.
03 -
- Chop the olives and sun-dried tomatoes to roughly the same size so every bite delivers balanced flavor instead of one overwhelming chunk.
- Let the cream cheese soften fully before you start, because patience at that step saves you from a lumpy, frustrating stirring session.