Best Black Olives Recipes

RED SNAPPER WITH BLACK OLIVES, CAPERS, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• In large bowl stir together olives, capers, red onion, tomatoes, basil, 3 tablespoons parsley, and olive oil. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and red pepper flakes, and let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Holding very sharp paring knife at 30-degree angle from fillets, cut 2 diagonal slits through skin and partially into flesh, making slits 1/2 inch apart.
• In large heavy skillet over high heat, heat 1/3 cup canola oil until hot but not smoking. Working in 3 batches, sprinkle fillets with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and place skin-side down in hot pan. Saué until skin is rich golden brown, about 3 minutes, lowering heat if necessary to prevent burning. Turn fillets over and cook 3 minutes more. Transfer to platter and loosely cover with foil to keep warm. Cook remaining two batches in same manner, wiping pan clean between batches and starting with fresh oil for each batch.
• After removing last batch of fish, pour lemon juice into pan and swirl around to combine with pan juices. Drizzle over fish, then sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup parsley. Garnish with tomato-olive mixture.

QUINOA SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS, GOAT CHEESE AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Combine the vinegar, honey and mustard in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil and blend until emulsified. Add salt and pepper to taste and pulse a few times to incorporate.
• For the quinoa salad: Bring the salted water or vegetable stock to a boil and add the thyme. Stir in the quinoa, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until cooked through, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Preheat the grill. Brush the asparagus with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on all sides until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the grill and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Transfer the quinoa to a large bowl, fold in the asparagus, olives, goat cheese, basil and parsley. Add just enough vinaigrette to moisten the salad; don't make it too wet. Transfer to a platter and drizzle with more of the vinaigrette.

GREEK-STYLE RICE WITH SPINACH, FETA, AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Wash the spinach and tender stems until the water runs clean; drain. If leaves are large and crinkly, sprinkle lightly with salt and mix well. Let stand in a colander 15 minutes; rinse and squeeze out excess moisture. Shred the spinach to make about 3 cups.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a 10-inch straight-sided skillet. Add the scallions, onions, a pinch of salt, and 1/4 cup water and cook, covered, over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. When the water evaporates, slowly let the onions turn golden, stirring occasionally. Add 1 cup water, the reduced tomato purée, and rice. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Spread the spinach and dill over the rice, cover, and cook 10 minutes longer. Remove from heat, mix, then place a double thickness of paper toweling over the rice, cover again, and let stand until cool. Adjust the seasoning with black pepper and salt and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Serve at room temperature garnished with black olives and feta cheese or yogurt.

5 INGREDIENT SAUTEED CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI RABE WITH BLACK OLIVES, SUNDRIED TOMATOES AND FETA

Steps:

• Heat the oil from sun-dried tomatoes in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown on all sides. Add tomatoes, broccoli rabe, olives, and 1/4 cup water, season with salt and pepper, cover and cook 3 minutes, until broccoli rabe wilts and chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat, transfer to a serving plate and top with feta cheese. Usually served with capellini pasta or rice.

SWEET POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE GRATIN WITH BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. If you are using an aluminum baking sheet, cover the bottom with parchment paper or Silpat, so that the potatoes won't discolor and turn brown while baking. If you are using a ceramic or stainless-steel baking sheet, you don't need to cover the bottom. Slice each sweet potato in half, lengthwise, and place face down on the tray. Bake until they are soft, about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove and allow to cool.
• Increase the heat in the oven to 400 degrees, place the pitted olives on a small baking sheet, and bake until they become hard and brittle, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• While the olives are baking, place a medium-size sauté pan with a heavy bottom over medium heat. Add the butter and brown it until it turns a hazelnut color and has a nutty fragrance, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the chopped shallots and allow to cook for about 3 minutes until translucent. Be careful not to burn the butter.
• When the sweet potatoes are cool, scoop out the insides and place in a bowl. Pour the butter and shallot mixture over the sweet potatoes, and mix. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, going lightly on the salt since the olives, which are added at the end, are salty. Place the sweet potato mix in a baking dish so that the sweet potatoes are one-inch thick. Spread the creamy goat cheese, in shallow dollops, over the sweet potatoes so that the sweet potatoes are clearly visible, at the edges and elsewhere. Bake at 400 degrees until the cheese and potatoes start to brown in some spots, about 15 minutes. The gratin won't brown like a traditional potato gratin; the colors of the sweet potatoes and the goat cheese will still be very present, but the goat cheese will turn beige, and the potatoes will begin to brown a bit.
• Once the olives are cool, chop them finely, and mix with the olive oil and the chopped basil. Spoon the olive mixture over the sweet potatoes and serve.

GRILLED PIZZA WITH SPICY HUMMUS, VEGETABLES, GOAT CHEESE AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• For the hummus:
• Place chickpeas, garlic, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, honey and tahini in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• For the pizza:
• Heat the grill to high. Brush both sides of the pizzas with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.
• Top each pizza with the spicy hummus. Arrange any or all of the veggies on top of the hummus and top with the goat cheese. Season with salt, pepper and ancho powder. Place the bread back on the grill, close the cover and grill for 5 minutes to heat through. Remove and add black olives and fresh basil.
• In a large bowl stir together 1/3 cup water, yeast, and sugar and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/3 cup water, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 3/4 cups flour, cornmeal, and salt and blend until the mixture forms a dough. Knead dough on a floured surface, incorporating as much of remaining 1/4 cup flour, as necessary, to prevent dough from sticking, until smooth about 5 to 10 minutes. Form the dough into a ball.
• Lightly oil the sides and bottom of a large bowl with oil, add the dough, turn to coat in the oil, cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour. Gently punch the dough down and divide into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch circle that is 1/8-inch thick. Brush off excess flour and transfer the dough to a baking sheet, cover each circle of dough with plastic wrap and continue stacking rolled out pieces on top of each other. Wrap well with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to grill.

RICE WITH TOMATOES AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Combine rice and 2 cups of water in heavy-bottomed saucepan. Bring to boil; reduce heat and cook a total of 17 minutes, until rice is tender and water has evaporated.
• Meanwhile chop the whole onion; sauté onion in hot oil in nonstick skillet.
• Pit and cut up olives; wash, trim and coarsely chop tomatoes. When onion is tender add the olives and tomatoes and cook over high heat to evaporate liquid.
• Wash, dry and chop basil to make 2 tablespoons. Just before adding tomato mixture to rice, stir in basil. Add mixture to cooked rice and season with optional salt and with pepper.

BRAISED SHORT RIBS OF BEEF WITH RED WINE, APRICOTS, AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Dust with the flour. Heat the oil in a large braising pan or ovenproof casserole over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until most of the fat is rendered, then remove and set aside.
• Add as many ribs as can fit in a single layer to the pan. You will need to cook them in batches. Sear the ribs on both sides until well browned, then remove from the pan and set aside. Repeat with the remaining ribs. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan.
• Lower the heat to medium, add the carrots and onions, season with salt and pepper, and saute until the vegetables begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato and paste and cook for 4 more minutes, scraping the browned bits off of the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the red wine and brandy and reduce by 1/2, about 6 minutes.
• Return the ribs and bacon to the pot. Add the remaining ingredients except the apricots and parsley and bring to a boil. The liquid should come 1/3 of the way up the ribs, if it does not, add some water. As soon as the liquid comes to a boil, turn off the heat an cover the ribs tightly with foil, pressing the foil down into the pan, then place a lid on the pan.
• Braise the ribs in the oven for 2 hours, turning them every 30 minutes so they cook evenly. Add water as necessary to keep the braising juice 1/3 of the way up the ribs.
• After 2 hours, add the apricots and cook for an additional 30 minutes. The meat should be almost falling off the bones (if it is not, keep cooking until it does). Transfer the short ribs to a large platter. Spoon the vegetables, olives, and apricots over them. Keep warm.
• Strain the braising juices into a clear glass container and siphon or skim off the fat. The braising juices may already be the consistency of a sauce. If not, return them to the pan and boil for a few minutes to thicken. If you prefer an absolutely smooth sauce, strain out any remaining pieces of vegetable. Taste, season with salt and pepper, and add the parsley. Pour the sauce over the ribs and serve immediately.

PASTA WITH TOMATOES, BLACK OLIVES AND CAPERS

Steps:

• Prepare pasta according to package instructions.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil and saute onions till they start to turn clear.
• Add the garlic and saute briefly. Don't let it brown.
• Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with your hands or a spoon.
• Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
• Simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes. Sauce will thicken slightly but still should have liquid.

BLACK EYED-PEA SALAD WITH FRIED KALAMATA OLIVES AND PARSNIP

Steps:

• The night before, pick over the peas and discard any stones. Place in a large pot or bowl, cover with water and let soak overnight. Drain and rinse.
• Combine the peas, bay leaf, cumin and 3 cups water in a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a rapid simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to low and cook, uncovered, until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. If the water gets low, add more to just cover the peas. Strain the peas and remove the bay leaf.
• Combine the cooked peas and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Let stand while you fry the olives.
• Heat the oil in a medium cast-iron skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the olives and cook until fragrant and the outsides blister, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour the olives and oil over the peas. Add the parsley, parsnip, green onions and lemon juice and toss to combine. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

PENNE WITH BABY ARTICHOKES, BLACK OLIVES AND PEAS

Steps:

• Rinse the artichokes in cold water. Bend back the green petals and snap them off all the way down to the light green and yellow leaves. Cut off the top cone of petals and the green part of the base. Cut the artichokes in half, if the choke and thistle look spiky, remove them. Otherwise, just put in acidulated water.
• Coat a saucepan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and place over medium heat. Blot the artichokes dry then add them to the pan. Add the garlic, shallot, lemon slices, bay leaves and red pepper flakes. Pour in the stock, cover, and let simmer for 8 minutes to soften the artichokes. Remove the lid and add the olives, basil, tomatoes and butter, stir to incorporate. Add the peas and remaining oil; season again with salt and pepper. Cook pasta al dente and top with the baby artichoke sauce. Sprinkle with grated cheese before serving.

OVEN-DRIED TOMATO TART WITH GOAT CHEESE AND BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil; brush foil with 1 tablespoon oil. Place tomato halves, cut side up, on baking sheet. Sprinkle garlic and 1 tablespoon thyme over tomatoes; drizzle remaining 1/4 cup oil over. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Bake until tomatoes begin to shrink and are slightly dried but still soft, about 2 hours. Cool tomatoes on sheet. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in single layer in covered container in refrigerator.)
• Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to 13-inch square. Transfer pastry to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom, pressing pastry firmly onto bottom and sides of pan. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch. Fold overhang in and press, pushing crust 1/4 inch above pan. Pierce crust all over with fork; chill 30 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line pastry with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until crust is set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans; bake until crust edges are golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 12 minutes longer. Cool crust 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Meanwhile, using fork, mash mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, and remaining 1 tablespoon thyme together in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add eggs and cream and stir until mixture is well blended. Spread cheese filling evenly in crust. Arrange tomato halves in filling, cut side up. Place olives between tomatoes. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over top. Bake until filling is puffed and set, about 35 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Push up pan bottom, releasing sides. Serve tart warm.

BAKED BLUE CHEESE STUFFED COLOSSAL BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Filling -- Just mix the cheeses, garlic, shallot, red pepper, and black pepper. No salt needed as the cheese and olives provide enough salty flavor. Mix well breaking up the bleu cheese and make sure that the filling is creamy.
• Stuffing -- You can use a pastry bag, but I personally use a small ziplock or plastic baggie. Then cut a tip off of one of the corners, squeeze the bag, and stuff the olives.
• Walnuts -- You can sometimes find them chopped, but if not, just use a small food processor or you can chop them by hand. You want them fine chopped.
• After you have stuffed the olives. I dip the two ends with the cheese into the ground nuts to give a little crunch.
• Skewers -- Before I skewer them I let the olives chill after stuffing. Then, depending on what size skewer you use, add as many olives as you want. I prefer to use the small skewers and add 3 olives per skewer for a nice bite size appetizer.
• Heat them up, either in the microwave (1-2 minutes on 60% power) or in the oven, 350 for about 5-7 minutes. Just until warm and the cheese is heated through.
• ENJOY!

ROMAINE HEARTS WITH FETA CHEESE, BLACK OLIVES, AND RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Remove outer leaves of romaine, reserving for another use. Separate leaves from heart; arrange in a serving bowl.
• Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, shave the onion and the cucumber into thin, transparent rounds.
• Scatter onion, cucumber, and olives over romaine. Crumble feta directly onto salad. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper; serve.

SPAGHETTI WITH TOMATOES, BLACK OLIVES, GARLIC, AND FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the tomatoes, olives, feta, capers, parsley, salt, and pepper.
• In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the spaghetti until just done, about 12 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a medium frying pan, heat the olive oil over moderately low heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the cooked pasta and the garlic oil to the tomato mixture and toss.

ONE-POT FISH WITH BLACK OLIVES & TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil from the olives in an ovenproof pan. Tip in the onion and stir well, leave to cook for a minute or two and then give it another good stir. Add the tomatoes and some salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, then add the olives.
• Put the fish, skin side down, onto the sauce and drizzle over a splash more oil from the olive jar. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes until the fish is cooked. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve straight from the pan, with lemon wedges for squeezing over.

CAULIFLOWER WITH CAPERS, BLACK OLIVES AND CHILES

Steps:

• Trim the cauliflower, and break the head apart into florets.
• On a chopping board, combine the olives, capers, parsley and lemon zest, and chop together to mix well.
• Bring a pot of water large enough to hold the cauliflower to a rolling boil. Add a big pinch of salt, and when it returns to a boil, add the florets. Cook until the florets are just barely tender, about 6 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet large enough to hold all the ingredients, warm the chile flakes and the garlic in the oil over medium-low heat until hot, about 3 or 4 minutes. The chile and garlic should be starting to melt in the oil, rather than sizzling and browning. Stir in the lemon juice, and cook for another 2 minutes, then add the olive-caper mix, give it a stir, take it off the heat and set aside.
• Drain the cauliflower well, shaking the colander. Combine the cauliflower with the olive-caper dressing in the skillet, and set the skillet back on medium heat. Warm it up to serving temperature, taste to make sure the seasoning is right and serve.

ROAST TOMATOES WITH ASPARAGUS & BLACK OLIVES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Spread the tomatoes out on a large baking tray and prick each one with a fork. Sprinkle with olive oil, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and scatter with the garlic. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes.
• Lay asparagus flat in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Splash with 3 tbsp olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roll the spears until they're hot and evenly coated with oil.
• Remove tomatoes from oven and pour off the excess juice. Push tomatoes to one side of tray and lay asparagus next to them. Return to oven and roast for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with the olives before serving warm or at room temperature. Vegetables can be done up to two hours before serving and kept at room temperature.

FISH FILLETS WITH HARISSA AND BLACK OLIVES (TUNISIA)

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper.
• Dust with flour and fry in hot olive oil until golden brown on all sides.
• Transfer fish to a side dish. Add onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for a few minutes.
• Add tomato sauce, harissa, bay leaf and 1/2 cup water. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Add olives and fish fillets and continue cooking, uncovered, until the fish is tender and the sauce thick.
• Add lemon juice to taste. Discard the bay leaf.
• Serve, sprinkled with parsley.

ARUGULA AND MINT SALAD WITH OIL-CURED BLACK OLIVES, ORANGES, AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Whisk first 6 ingredients in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature and rewhisk before using.
• Place onion in large bowl. Add 1/3 of dressing; toss. Let marinate 20 minutes.
• Cut off peel and pith from oranges. Cut each orange crosswise into 8 slices.
• Add arugula, mint, and olives to bowl with onion; sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss. Add remaining dressing; toss. Divide salad among 6 plates. Tuck orange slices and ricotta salata slices into salads.