how2heroes » Fried Stuffed Olives

Appetizers » Fried Stuffed Olives

Kick up your cocktail hour with Chef Billy Brandolini's fried, stuffed olive hors d'oeuvres. These brilliant one-bite morsels are filled with decadent whipped gorgonzola cheese and herbs. Billy coats them in seasoned flour, egg and breadcrumbs, then fries them to a golden brown crunch. Serve these next to an icy, dry vodka martini and be the "bell of the ball" at your next cocktail party!

Print Recipe

Makes 100 olives

Ingredients

Olives & Stuffing

1 cup (8 oz) gorgonzola cheese
2 tbsp minced herbs (tarragon, thyme, rosemary & cilantro)
¼ - ½ cup heavy cream
4 cups pitted olives

Spice Blend

3 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp garlic powder
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Breading & Frying

1 cup flour
1 heaping tbsp spice blend (listed above)
6 eggs, whisked
2 cups bread crumbs
canola oil to fill a medium pot halfway
pinch of spice blend (listed above) to finish

How-to

Make Filling & Stuff Olives

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, whip gorgonzola on medium speed until creamy. Add herbs and some of the heavy whipping cream, a little at a time, until the mixture is smooth but not runny. You may not need all of the heavy cream
Transfer mixture into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Stick the tip into the hole of the olive and gentle squeeze until you see the cheese fill to the top. Repeat with remaining olives

Bread & Fry

Heat oil in a medium pot to 350º
Mix all spice blend ingredients together
Combine 1 heaping tbsp of the spice blend with the flour. Set the rest of the spice blend aside
To bread olives, toss about 6 at a time in a flour mixture. Transfer to whisked eggs to coat, then coat completely in bread crumbs
Place olives in a fine-mesh strainer and drop the strainer into the hot oil until the olives are submerged. Allow to fry for 30 seconds, or until golden brown. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle each batch with a dash of the spice blend. Repeat breading and frying process until all of the olives are cooked
Serve with freshly chopped herbs or micro greens to garnish. Enjoy immediately!