Italian Olive Cheese Spread (Print Version)
Creamy Italian spread with olives, cheeses, and fresh herbs for effortless entertaining.
# What You Need:
→ Cheese & Dairy
01 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
02 - 2 oz mascarpone cheese
03 - 2 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Olives
04 - 1/2 cup green olives, pitted and finely chopped
05 - 1/2 cup black olives, pitted and finely chopped
→ Flavorings & Seasonings
06 - 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced
08 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
09 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
10 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
11 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
12 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, mascarpone, and freshly grated Parmesan. Stir with a spatula until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy with no lumps remaining.
02 - Fold in the chopped green and black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, parsley, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the cheese base.
03 - Season with freshly ground black pepper, adjusting the quantity to your preference. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
04 - Transfer the spread to a serving dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to develop and meld together.
05 - Remove from refrigeration 10 minutes before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature alongside crusty bread, crostini, or crackers.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in ten minutes with zero cooking, which means you can make it while your guests are literally walking through the door.
- The combination of cream cheese, mascarpone, and Parmesan creates a richness that feels far more indulgent than the effort it takes.
02 -
- Skipping the chill time is the biggest mistake you can make because the garlic and herbs need that quiet hour in the cold to truly bloom.
- Chop the olives and sun-dried tomatoes as uniformly as possible because uneven chunks make the spread awkward to scoop onto bread.
03 -
- Use a fork to mash the cream cheese separately before adding the other cheeses because a few stubborn cold lumps will haunt the final texture if you skip this step.
- Pat the sun-dried tomatoes dry with a paper towel before chopping so they do not leak excess oil into the spread and make it weepy.