How To Turn Olives Into A Crunchy, Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer

Not everybody enjoys olives, but perhaps they just haven't found the right way to eat them. Olives are delicious fruits that grows on trees. The fruit can't be eaten raw. It has to be cured before consumption. From there, the food can be enjoyed solo or served as a side. Olives can often be found as a bar snack, on a charcuterie board, or incorporated into antipasto. Now, if you are looking to transform your olives into the perfect appetizer, look no further.

While olives are known for their briny taste and juicy texture, ever considered adding a bit of crunch? With just a few ingredients and a few minutes, you can whip up a batch of air-fried green olives that are bound to be a crowd favorite. First, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. Then, coat the olives. To do so, add flour in a bowl and a beaten egg in another bowl. Dip the olives in the flour and then in the egg. Finally, dip the wet olives into a third mixture of flour and bread crumbs. From there, place the olives in the air fryer. To make them extra crispy, ensure the olives are not overlapping. You can also coat the top lightly with cooking spray or a drizzle of oil. Air fry the olives until golden brown, flipping halfway. This can also be recreated in an oven or on a stovetop. For the latter, use a deep pan filled with oil for a nice fry.

Once you've made the air-fried green olives, it is time for the fun part: dressing them up. There are many different ways to serve the crunchy appetizer. You can serve the fried olives on their own or you can use them to fill up a charcuterie board. To really impress your guests, pair the savory appetizer with a selection of elegant sides, such as caviar and soft cheese. The sourness of the olives and caviar will pair perfectly with the creaminess of the soft cheese. If you are more of a beverage connoisseur, the fried olives can also be used as a creative cocktail garnish. Consider topping a Bloody Mary with the crispy appetizer or sticking on a toothpick and popping it on a martini to add a playful twist on the classic toppers. 

Once you nail the recipe, you can put a spin on it to add different tastes and textures. Consider frying a stuffed olive instead of a plain one. You can find a variety of them at grocery stores, such as olives stuffed with blue cheese, garlic, feta cheese, and jalapeños. You can also try adding different herbs in the dry coating, such as a dash of rosemary, red pepper flakes, or oregano. Lastly, don't be afraid to get creative with the coating. Take inspiration from other recipes, using panko crumbs or even crushed potato chips to coat the yummy orbs. From there, the world's your oyster — or shall we say, olive.