Italian Fried Olives Recipes

ITALIAN PAN-FRIED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Stab the potatoes with a fork and microwave until cooked, about 9 minutes. Let cool, about 10 minutes. Slice into wedges.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil and butter in a small pan over medium-low heat. Saute onion and garlic with salt and pepper until tender and sweet, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Heat enough remaining oil to coat the bottom of a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook potatoes in batches, making sure they aren't crowded in the pan. Turn carefully until golden and crispy, 7 to 10 minutes. Keep the first batch in the preheated oven until the second batch is done.
• Add olives to the second batch and cook for 1 minute. Add potatoes from the oven and onion-garlic mixture. Toss in the pan until everything is heated. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with parsley, salt, and pepper.

FRIED OLIVE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the radicchio, romaine and onion in a large serving bowl.
• Drizzle with half of the Dressing and toss well. Top with the Fried Olives. Shave the cheese over the top with a vegetable peeler into thick curls. Drizzle the remaining Dressing over the top and serve immediately.
• Combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, harissa, basil, oregano, salt, garlic powder and sugar in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. (The dressing can be made earlier in the day, though you may need to thin it out with a teaspoon or two of water before serving.)
• Heat an inch of oil to 350 degrees F in a medium Dutch oven. Set a rack over a baking sheet and set aside.
• Spread the flour in a shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in a second shallow bowl with a pinch of salt and splash of water. In a third shallow bowl, toss together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Dredge the olives, a few at a time, in the flour, then the beaten egg, letting the excess drip back into the bowl. Dredge once more in both flour and egg, then roll in the breadcrumbs to coat thoroughly. Set the olives on a plate as you coat them.
• Once all the olives are breaded, add them to the oil a few at a time, stirring gently with a spider or slotted spoon, to keep them separate. Fry until golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to rack. Season with salt, as needed.

CRISPY OLIVES STUFFED WITH SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Remove the sausage meat from the casing and place it in a medium bowl. Add the garlic, a pinch of salt, and red pepper flakes, if using. Mix to evenly distribute the ingredients. Drain the olives and rinse them under cold water. Remove the pimentos, if necessary. Stuff each of the olives with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the sausage mixture.
• Heat the oil in a deep fryer, or stock pot, to 375 degrees F.
• Spread the flour on a dinner plate.
• Break the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat lightly.
• Spread the bread crumbs on another dinner plate and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Moisten the olives with the olive oil, stirring to evenly distribute the oil and seasoning.
• Roll the olives in the flour, coating them all over and shaking off the excess. Then dip them in the egg, letting any excess drip back into the bowl. Finally, coat the olives all over with the bread crumbs. As each olive is coated, place it on a tray. Cover the olives and refrigerate until you are ready to fry them.
• Fry the olives until golden brown and the sausage in the middle is cooked through, about 3 minutes. The olives will bubble vigorously until they are nearly done, so watch for splatters. Drain on paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Serve warm or at room temperature.

FRIED OLIVES

Steps:

• Soak olives in cold water for 15 minutes to reduce brininess. Drain, and pat dry. Stuff each with blue cheese.
• Put flour, egg, and breadcrumbs in 3 bowls. Dredge olives in flour, dip in egg, then dredge in breadcrumbs. Refrigerate until ready to fry.
• Heat vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium until hot but not smoking. Working in batches, fry olives until golden, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon. Serve warm.