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Fried, Roasted, and Stewed: 20 Recipes with Olives

Olives infuse dishes with a new depth of flavor. The salty brine melds well with everything from rich cheeses to biting citrus. These recipes will help you start cooking with olives.
cheese stuffed dates with prosciutto
Jonny Valiant
Olives infuse dishes with a new depth of flavor. The salty brine melds well with everything from rich cheeses to biting citrus. These recipes will help you start cooking with olives. Also, check out this collection of fiber-rich hearty white bean recipes.
1

Italian Fried Olives

cheese stuffed dates with prosciutto
Jonny Valiant

Start a special dinner with Giada DiLaurentiis's gorgonzola cheese- and thyme-stuffed fried olives (pictured with Giada's Cheese-Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto).

Recipe: Italian Fried Olives

2

Chicken Thighs with Green Olive, Cherry, and Port Sauce

<p>This sweet and salty sauce with dried cherries and port is wonderful over succulent chicken thighs. Feel free to substitute cranberry juice cocktail for port, which is a fortified wine that provides an immediate depth of flavor.</p>
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<p><b>Recipe: </b><a href="/recipefinder/chicken-thighs-green-olive-cherry-port-sauce-recipe-9331" target="_blank"><b>Chicken Thighs with Green Olive, Cherry, and Port Sauce</b></a></p>
Ken Burris

This sweet and salty sauce with dried cherries and port is wonderful over succulent chicken thighs. Feel free to substitute cranberry juice cocktail for port, which is a fortified wine that provides an immediate depth of flavor.

Recipe: Chicken Thighs with Green Olive, Cherry, and Port Sauce

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3

Pizza with Broccoli and Black Olives

<p>Broccoli, accented by black olives, makes a delicious — and extra healthful — pizza topping.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/pizza-broccoli-black-olives-recipe-5609" target="_blank"><b>Pizza with Broccoli and Black Olives</b></a></p>

Broccoli, accented by black olives, makes a delicious — and extra healthful — pizza topping.

Recipe: Pizza with Broccoli and Black Olives

4

Cauliflower with Lemon and Olives

<p>Tangy lemon and briny olives perk up simple steamed cauliflower.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/cauliflower-lemon-olives-recipe" target="_blank"><b>Cauliflower with Lemon and Olives</b></a></p>
Ken Burris

Tangy lemon and briny olives perk up simple steamed cauliflower.

Recipe: Cauliflower with Lemon and Olives

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5

Tuna Pasta with Olives and Artichokes

<p>Here we toss grilled tuna with pasta, artichoke hearts, green olives, and tomatoes. Grilling the tuna gives this ultra-fresh pasta dish a subtle smokiness. But if you're pressed for time, try canned tuna in place of the grilled fish.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/tuna-pasta-olives-artichokes-recipe-ew0510" target="_blank"><b>Tuna Pasta with Olives and Artichokes</b></a></p>
Ken Burris

Here we toss grilled tuna with pasta, artichoke hearts, green olives, and tomatoes. Grilling the tuna gives this ultra-fresh pasta dish a subtle smokiness. But if you're pressed for time, try canned tuna in place of the grilled fish.

Recipe: Tuna Pasta with Olives and Artichokes

6

Minty Green Olive-Celery Salsa

<p>This bright, briny salsa, full of vitamin E-rich olives, is more like a crunchy tapenade. It's brilliant over white fish like hake. </p><br />
<p><b>Recipe: </b><a href="/recipefinder/minty-green-olivecelery-salsa-recipe" target="_blank"><b>Minty Green Olive-Celery Salsa</b></a></p>
Kana Okada

This bright, briny salsa, full of vitamin E-rich olives, is more like a crunchy tapenade. It's brilliant over white fish like hake.

Recipe: Minty Green Olive-Celery Salsa

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7

Braised Pork Chops with Cipollini and Olives

<p>"When I think of Piedmont, I think of rustic wild boar dishes," Marcia Kiesel says about the inspiration behind these slow-cooked pork shoulder chops, which she pairs with the region's robust Nebbiolos.
</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/braised-pork-chops-cipollini-olives-recipe-fw0112" target="_blank"><b>Braised Pork Chops with Cipollini and Olives</b></a></p>
© Constantine Poulos

"When I think of Piedmont, I think of rustic wild boar dishes," Marcia Kiesel says about the inspiration behind these slow-cooked pork shoulder chops, which she pairs with the region's robust Nebbiolos.

Recipe: Braised Pork Chops with Cipollini and Olives

8

Roasted Cod with Warm Tomato-Olive-Caper Tapenade

<p>The Mediterranean flavors of a warm tomato tapenade will brighten all kinds of white fish as well as chicken. Make it a meal: Orzo and sautéed spinach will round out this meal.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/roasted-cod-warm-tomato-olive-caper-tapenade-recipe-5293" target="_blank"><b>Roasted Cod with Warm Tomato-Olive-Caper Tapenade</b></a></p>

The Mediterranean flavors of a warm tomato tapenade will brighten all kinds of white fish as well as chicken. Make it a meal: Orzo and sautéed spinach will round out this meal.

Recipe: Roasted Cod with Warm Tomato-Olive-Caper Tapenade

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9

Potatoes and Sausages with Olives, Lemon, and Parsley

<p>Frying the potatoes and sausages before adding the rest of dish's ingredients gives them an irresistible crispiness. The addition of lemon and white wine brings depth and brightness of flavor to an otherwise run-of-the-mill meal of meat and potatoes.
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By Cheryl Slocum</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/potatoes-sausages-olives-lemon-parsley-recipe-clv0211" target="_blank"><b>Potatoes and Sausages with Olives, Lemon, and Parsley</b></a></p>
Anna Williams

Frying the potatoes and sausages before adding the rest of dish's ingredients gives them an irresistible crispiness. The addition of lemon and white wine brings depth and brightness of flavor to an otherwise run-of-the-mill meal of meat and potatoes.

Recipe: Potatoes and Sausages with Olives, Lemon, and Parsley

10

Brown Rice Pilaf with Green Olives and Lemon

<p>Chef Alain Coumont, founder of the restaurant chain <a href="http://www.lepainquotidien.com/" target="_blank">Le Pain Quotidien</a>, makes this creamy (yet cream-free) rice dish with lemony Lucques olives and nutty organic Camargue red rice, but almost any green olive or short-grain brown rice would be terrific.</p><br />
<p><b>Recipe: </b><a href="/recipefinder/brown-rice-pilaf-green-olives-lemon-recipe" target="_blank"><b>Brown Rice Pilaf with Green Olives and Lemon</b></a></p>
Martin Morrell

Chef Alain Coumont, founder of the restaurant chain Le Pain Quotidien, makes this creamy (yet cream-free) rice dish with lemony Lucques olives and nutty organic Camargue red rice, but almost any green olive or short-grain brown rice would be terrific.

Recipe: Brown Rice Pilaf with Green Olives and Lemon

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11

Mozzarella and Arugula Salad with Croutons and Black Olives

<p>This simple arugula salad showcases sublime, delicious, fresh mozzarella.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/mozzarella-arugula-salad-croutons-olives" target="_blank"><b>Mozzarella and Arugula Salad with Croutons and Black Olives</b></a></p>
Lara Robby

This simple arugula salad showcases sublime, delicious, fresh mozzarella.

Recipe: Mozzarella and Arugula Salad with Croutons and Black Olives

12

Penne with Tuna, Plum Tomatoes, and Black Olives

<p>Common kitchen staples take on a Mediterranean flair when tossed together in this penne with tuna, plum tomatoes, and black olives.
<br />
<br />
Adapted from The Pleasures of Cooking for One, by Judith Jones, copyright© 2009, with permission from the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/penne-tuna-plum-tomatoes-black-olives-recipe" target="_blank"><b>Penne with Tuna, Plum Tomatoes, and Black Olives</b></a></p>
Dana Gallagher

Common kitchen staples take on a Mediterranean flair when tossed together in this penne with tuna, plum tomatoes, and black olives.

Recipe: Penne with Tuna, Plum Tomatoes, and Black Olives

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13

Roasted California Fennel with Olive Tapenade, Feta, and Mint

<p>Slow-roasting fennel caramelizes its natural sugars and softens what in a raw state is a very crisp texture to something like that of a rich roasted onion. Topped with olive tapenade, feta, and mint, it makes a side dish that can't be beat.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="recipefinder/roasted-california-fennel-olive-tapenade-feta-mint-recipe-ew0611" target="_blank"><b>Roasted California Fennel with Olive Tapenade, Feta, and Mint</b></a></p>
Ken Burris

Slow-roasting fennel caramelizes its natural sugars and softens what in a raw state is a very crisp texture to something like that of a rich roasted onion. Topped with olive tapenade, feta, and mint, it makes a side dish that can't be beat.

Recipe: Roasted California Fennel with Olive Tapenade, Feta, and Mint

14

Chicken with Olives and Peppers

<p>With just a few rustic, rich-tasting add-ins — sherry, slivers of green olive, comforting cubes of bread — chicken thighs gain savory Spanish flavor.</p><br />
<p><b>Recipe: </b><a href="/recipefinder/chicken-olives-peppers-recipe-ghk0910" target="_blank"><b>Chicken with Olives and Peppers</b></a></p>
Con Poulos

With just a few rustic, rich-tasting add-ins — sherry, slivers of green olive, comforting cubes of bread — chicken thighs gain savory Spanish flavor.

Recipe: Chicken with Olives and Peppers

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15

Green Olive and Almond Spread

<p>Serve this simple but unique spread with zucchini or cucumber rounds or fire-toasted thin baguette slices.</p><br />
<p><b>Recipe: </b><a href="/recipefinder/green-olive-almond-spread-recipe-5967" target="_blank"><b>Green Olive and Almond Spread</b></a></p>

Serve this simple but unique spread with zucchini or cucumber rounds or fire-toasted thin baguette slices.

Recipe: Green Olive and Almond Spread

16

Roasted Beet and Olive Salad with Orange and Mint

<p>This Greek side-dish salad is both tangy and sweet, pairing roasted beets, black olives, and oranges.</p>
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<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/beet-olive-salad-orange-mint-recipe-rbk0610?click=recipe_sr" target="_blank"><b>Roasted Beet and Olive Salad with Orange and Mint</b></a></p>
Jonny Valiant

This Greek side-dish salad is both tangy and sweet, pairing roasted beets, black olives, and oranges.

Recipe: Roasted Beet and Olive Salad with Orange and Mint

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17

Lamb, Fig, and Olive Stew for Two

<p>Not your Irish grandmother's stew, this version was inspired by flavors from the south of France: figs, green olives, and herbes de Provence. To shorten the cooking time, we use ground lamb.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/lamb-fig-olive-stew-for-two-recipe" target="_blank"><b>Lamb, Fig, and Olive Stew for Two</b></a></p>

Not your Irish grandmother's stew, this version was inspired by flavors from the south of France: figs, green olives, and herbes de Provence. To shorten the cooking time, we use ground lamb.

Recipe: Lamb, Fig, and Olive Stew for Two

18

Marinated Olives and Feta

<p>Olives and feta marinated with rosemary, lemon, and garlic are great served on crisp flatbread-style crackers or warm slices of crusty baguette.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/marinated-olives-feta-recipe-ew1110" target="_blank"><b>Marinated Olives and Feta</b></a></p>
Ken Burris

Olives and feta marinated with rosemary, lemon, and garlic are great served on crisp flatbread-style crackers or warm slices of crusty baguette.

Recipe: Marinated Olives and Feta

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19

Provolone and Olive Stuffed Chicken Breasts

<p>This is an elegant dish. Making a pocket in the chicken breast to hold the stuffing is easy, particularly if you use a good, sharp, thin-bladed knife.</p><br /><p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/provolone-olive-stuffed-chicken-breasts-recipe-ew0410" target="_blank"><b>Provolone and Olive Stuffed Chicken Breasts</b></a></p>
Ken Burris

This is an elegant dish. Making a pocket in the chicken breast to hold the stuffing is easy, particularly if you use a good, sharp, thin-bladed knife.

Recipe: Provolone and Olive Stuffed Chicken Breasts

20

Rigatoni with Beef and Green Olives

<p>Hearty rigatoni topped with lean ground beef and a sauce studded with piquant green olives makes quick, filling dinner during the cold winter months.</p>
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<p><b>Recipe:</b> <a href="/recipefinder/rigatoni-beef-green-olives-recipe-ghk0112"><b>Rigatoni with Beef and Green Olives </b></a></p>

Hearty rigatoni topped with lean ground beef and a sauce studded with piquant green olives makes a quick, filling dinner during the cold winter months.

Recipe: Rigatoni with Beef and Green Olives

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