Italian Olive Cheese Spread (Printable)
Creamy Italian spread with olives, three cheeses, and fresh herbs in just 10 minutes.
# 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
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mascarpone, and freshly grated Parmesan. Stir with a spatula 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 crushed red pepper flakes if using. Fold everything together until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the cheese base.
03 - Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting the quantity to your preference. Stir gently to incorporate.
04 - Transfer the spread to a serving dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to develop and meld together.
05 - Remove from the refrigerator 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature alongside crusty bread, crostini, crackers, or vegetable crudité.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in ten minutes flat with zero cooking, which means you can make it while your guests are literally walking through the door.
- The combination of creamy cheeses and briny olives creates this addictive salty tang that disappears faster than anything else on the appetizer tray.
02 -
- Do not skip the resting time because the garlic and herbs need that hour to soften and infuse the entire spread with their flavor.
- If your cream cheese is too cold, microwave it in ten second bursts rather than trying to force it smooth with a fork.
03 -
- Pat the sun-dried tomatoes dry with a paper towel before chopping or their oil will make the spread greasy.
- A squeeze of lemon juice right before serving wakes up all the flavors if the spread has been sitting overnight.