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Greek fried olives

Juicy olives stuffed with feta cheese and oregano and fried in crispy breadcrumbs. A tasty and moreish canapé that is ridiculously easy to make!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 20
Calories: 30 kcal
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Greek

Ingredients

  • ½ cup feta cheese
  • ¼ cup ricotta cheese
  • 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
  • a squeeze or two of lemon juice
  • a drizzle of olive oil if necessary
  • 20 kalamata olives large, pitted
  • 2 tablespoons plain flour (you may need a little more or less)
  • 1 egg whisked
  • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs or just use regular breadcrumbs (you may need a little more or less than 1/4 cup)
  • oil for frying I used canola oil - enough to just cover the olives in the bottom of a small saucepan

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Crumble the feta cheese into a food processor, then pulse it a few times until it resembles fine crumbs. Then add the ricotta, oregano and lemon juice and process until it’s smooth and creamy. Add a drizzle of olive oil to help it loosen up if you think it needs it.
  2. Blot your olives on kitchen paper if they’ve been stored in brine, then spoon the filling into a piping bag. Cut off the very end (to about the size of the hole in the olive), then pipe little bits of the feta mixture into each olive.
  3. When all the olives are filled, begin heating your oil on a medium heat. While it heats up, put your flour, egg and breadcrumbs on three separate dishes. Roll the olives first in the flour, then dip them in the egg using a slotted spoon, then roll them in the breadcrumbs.
  4. When the oil is hot enough (test with a cube of bread – it should brown within a minute or so if the oil is hot enough), fry the olives in batches for about 30 seconds or so or until they are a lovely golden brown. Fish them out with the slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper for a couple of minutes before serving with cocktail sticks for popping them into your mouth!

Notes

  • Filling the olives: You can use a piping bag with a very small nozzle or with the very end cut off. Or just a small plastic food bag will work.
  • If you're short on time, there's nothing wrong with using store bought stuffed olives. Just dry on kitchen paper, crumb and fry!
  • Preparing ahead: Fill and bread the olives ahead if you like. Cover and store in the fridge. When you're ready, fry and serve.
  • How to serve: You can serve these on their own in a bowl at a party. Or you can put them on sticks and serve them as a party bite. 
  • Alternatively, serve them as part of a larger appetizer plate including meats, cheeses, jarred vegetables like sundried tomatoes and artichokes, and anything else you can think of.
  • What to do with the leftover filling: Depending on how many olives you want to stuff, you'll possibly have a fair bit of the filling left. If you do, pipe the leftovers into a dish and use as a spread for sandwiches or a dip the next day!

Nutrition Information

Calories 30kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 2g (1%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 13mg (4%) Sodium 115mg (5%) Potassium 10mg (0%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 60IU (1%) Calcium 32mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 20Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 30

% Daily Value*

Calories 30kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 2g 1%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 115mg 5%
Potassium 10mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 60IU 1%
Calcium 32mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.