Olive Bites Recipes

OLIVE BALLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Stir together cheese, butter and Worcestershire sauce; stir in Bisquick mix until dough forms (work with hands if necessary). Pat olives completely dry on paper towel. Shape 1 teaspoon dough around each olive. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake about 10 minutes or until light golden brown.

FRIED OLIVES

Steps:

• Pour the olive oil into a medium saucepot fitted with a deep-fry thermometer. Place over medium heat and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Set up a dredging station by placing the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Working in batches, drop the olives into the flour and roll until evenly coated. Shake off any excess flour and place the olives into the egg. Coat the olives in the egg and lift out, allowing any excess egg to drip off. Roll the olives in the breadcrumbs until evenly coated. Set aside a baking sheet.
• Once the oil is hot, carefully add the basil leaves and lemon peels, being aware that the oil may pop. Fry just until crispy, about 30 seconds. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Working in batches, fry the olives until the breadcrumbs are crunchy and the cheese is soft, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool slightly.
• Put the olives on a serving platter and crumble the fried basil and lemon zest over top. Sprinkle with freshly cracked pepper.

CRISP PARMESAN, OLIVE & SUNDRIED TOMATO POLENTA BITES

Steps:

• Pour the stock into a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the polenta, and stir continuously over a medium heat for 3-4 mins until thickened and just coming away from the edges of the pan. Add the olives, tomatoes, oil and most of the parmesan, and stir for a further minute until well combined. Season.
• Spoon the polenta mixture onto a lined swiss roll tray or baking sheet. Place another sheet of baking parchment on top and roll out to 1cm thick, then remove the top sheet of parchment and scatter with the remaining parmesan. Leave the polenta to cool at room temperature for 1 hr to set. Alternatively, if you're making it ahead, leave to cool and chill for several hours or overnight.
• Once the polenta has set, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut or stamp the polenta sheet into shapes of your choice, and arrange on a baking tray lined with parchment. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown and crisp, and serve warm. Will keep for up to a day in the fridge.

OLIVE BITES

Steps:

• Mix cheeses and spices together till lump free.
• Add olives and gently mix till combined.
• Chill 30 minutes.
• Use a small cookie scoop and portion out filling. (100 disher).
• Drop into bread crumbs to coat and gently roll into balls.
• Place on baking sheet and freeze 20 minutes.
• Dip balls into beaten eggs a few at a time to coat.
• Use a fork to lift balls out of eggs and roll in bread crumbs.
• Freeze for 20 minutes.
• Repeat rolling in eggs and bread crumbs.
• Allow to dry for 15 minutes.
• Fry a few at a time at 350 till deeply browned.
• Drain on paper towels.

OLIVE, PEPPERONI & MOZZARELLA BITES

Steps:

• Slice Mozzarella cheese into 1/2" x 1/2" cubes. Drain olives from liquid. Using a toothpick, skewer an olive and push 1/3 way up the toothpick. Fold a piece of pepperoni into half or quarters and skewer next. Finally skewer mozzarella. Do not push toothpick all the way through mozzarella, only half way through as you do not want guests poking themselves in the mouth with the toothpick. If making ahead of time, arrange on tray and cover with saran wrap so that it does not dry out. When serving, serve plain or with a drizzle of pizza sauce on platter.