Description
These Fried Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives are a crispy, crunchy, salty, savory recipe that makes the perfect starter. These poppable little guys are paired with homemade garlic aioli for an unforgettable appetizer best served during Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
Ingredients
For Frying:
1 – 5.5 oz jar Green California olives
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
Cracked black pepper
2 eggs, whisked
½ cup panko bread crumbs
Vegetable oil
For Aioli:
½ cup mayonnaise
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
Pinch of kosher salt
Instructions
- Stuff olives: Gently open olives and stuff a small piece of blue cheese inside. Close the two olive sides together and place them onto a paper towel-lined plate. Continue with the remaining olives.
- Prep breading station: In a small bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, salt and cracked black pepper and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs and set aside. Finally, place panko bread crumbs into a third bowl and set aside.
- Heat oil: In a large heavy bottom skillet, add in enough oil to fill the skillet ⅓ of the way up the pan. Heat oil until a deep fryer thermometer reaches 350 F.
- Coat with flour: When oil is ready, place 5-8 olives in the bowl with the flour. Toss gently with a slotted spoon or fork until olives are covered with flour.
- Toss in egg and breadcrumbs: Place the olives in the bowl with the beaten egg, being sure to coat each olive with egg. With a different slotted spoon (or fork), transfer the olives to the breadcrumb mixture and, using yet another fork, turn the olives gently to cover with the breadcrumbs.
- Fry olives: Place the olives in the hot oil and fry for 30-45 seconds, or until golden brown. Very gently stir the olives in the oil so all sides fry evenly. Transfer the olives to the paper-towel-covered plate to cool a few minutes before serving. Repeat until all olives are fried.
- Make the aioli: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and kosher salt until well combined. Serve on the side with the olives.
Notes
Make-Ahead: Follow the steps above and refrigerate the olives. When ready to serve, heat in a 400 degree F oven for 2-3 minutes, or until warm and crispy.
Keywords: deep fried, salty, easy