This weekend brings Super Bowl XLVIII. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?! Or maybe just some entertaining commercials? That’s fine, too! We don’t judge, especially since our beloved 49ers… Never mind, sore subject. Yes, some members of the Parties That Cook team root for the Seahawks; even some folks in our SF office are part of that notorious 12th man (*cough* Beth *cough*). If you’re like me, mourning the loss of your team, not cheering for anyone in particular, lethargically gorging yourself on snacks, make sure you have these delicious stuffed olives on hand. The herb and sausage mixture, alone, is enough to make you feel like a winner.

Avoid the mistakes that include your 37th chip with 8-layer dip, 11th pig in a blanket, and 8th greasy potato skin. Do your viewing party a favor, make these herb and sweet Italian sausage-stuffed olives, and come prepared for battle!

Fried Castelvetrano Olives Stuffed with Herbs and Sweet Italian Sausage
Similar recipes can be found in our Appetizer Recipe Library

Ingredients
Olives and Stuffing:
70 pitted Castelvetrano olives or any large pitted green olive
6 oz. sweet Italian sausage, casing removed
1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon rosemary, minced
1 Tablespoon Italian parsley, finely chopped
Zest of 2 lemons
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups all- purpose flour
3 eggs, lightly beaten
4 cups panko bread crumbs
Canola or vegetable oil for frying
Piping bags if desired
Toothpicks

Methods/Steps
Rinse Olives: Remove olives from any brine and rinse well in a sieve under running water. Turn olives out onto a paper towel lined sheet pan. This step will remove excess saltiness.

Prepare Stuffing: In a medium bowl mix together the sausage, Parmigiano Reggiano, garlic, rosemary, parsley, lemon zest, and black pepper.

Stuff Olives: Cut a small slit in the side of each olive to open it up a bit. Using a teaspoon or piping bag, stuff a scant half teaspoon of the sausage mixture into the olives. Press lightly to pack the stuffing in and to form the olive back into an olive shape. Place olives back onto the sheet pan. Helpful hint: Once you have about 12 or so stuffed, you can have a friend or helper continue on to step 4.

Dredge Olives: Assemble a “breading” or “dredging” station by putting the flour into one shallow pan, the beaten egg into another and the panko into a third. Roll the olives in the flour to coat, then into the beaten egg, then into the breadcrumb. Place the breaded olives back onto the sheet pan. Continue the process until all the stuffed olives are breaded. If possible, place olives into the freezer for 10 minutes to allow the breading to set up or refrigerate for 20 minutes (Chilling may be skipped, though you may lose a bit more of the coating when frying.)

Fry Olives: In a high sided sauté pan, pour in enough canola oil to fill the pan about two inches deep. Heat the oil until it reaches 375°F. Working in batches of about 12; place the olives into a spider and gently place into the oil. Fry until the breading reaches a rich, golden brown and the sausage is thoroughly cooked, about 3-5 minutes. Remove with the spider onto a cooling rack set over a sheet pan.

Serve: While hot, place olives onto a platter and serve with toothpicks if desired.

Serves/Makes
Makes about 70 Olives — enough for a party!

Recipe created by Parties That Cook®  www.PartiesThatCook.com