Italian Olive Cheese Spread (Print Version)

Creamy blend of Italian cheeses, briny olives, and fresh herbs for crostini and crackers.

# What You Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 4.2 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
02 - 3.5 oz ricotta cheese
03 - 2.1 oz freshly 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 tablespoons oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
07 - 2 tablespoons roasted red peppers, finely chopped

→ Herbs & Seasonings

08 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - Fine sea salt, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Place the softened cream cheese, ricotta, and grated Parmesan in a medium mixing bowl. Stir vigorously with a spatula or wooden spoon until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps.
02 - Add the chopped olives, sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, and roasted red peppers to the cheese mixture. Fold gently but thoroughly so the add-ins are evenly distributed throughout.
03 - Pour in the extra virgin olive oil and add the fresh basil, parsley, dried oregano, and black pepper. Stir until every ingredient is well incorporated. Taste and adjust the salt as needed.
04 - Transfer the spread to a serving bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This resting period allows the flavors to meld and the spread to firm up slightly.
05 - Remove from the refrigerator 10 minutes before serving. Accompany with toasted baguette slices, crostini, crackers, or crisp vegetable sticks such as celery and bell pepper strips.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in ten minutes with zero cooking, which means you can make it right before guests arrive and still have time to change out of your apron.
  • The combination of creamy cheeses and briny olives hits that magical balance between rich and bright that keeps people hovering around the bowl.
  • It is endlessly adaptable based on whatever you have lingering in your fridge or pantry.
02 -
  • If you forget to soften the cream cheese, you will end up chasing lumps around the bowl forever, so plan ahead or microwave it in ten second bursts.
  • Pitting olives yourself by pressing them with the flat side of a knife gives you better control over the chop than buying pre-pitted ones.
  • The spread tastes noticeably better after resting because the garlic and herbs need time to release their oils into the cheese.
03 -
  • Finely chopping the olives and sun-dried tomatoes rather than leaving them chunky ensures you get a little bit of everything in each bite.
  • A glass of crisp Pinot Grigio beside this spread on a warm evening is genuinely one of lifes simplest and best combinations.

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