Fried Gorgonzola Olives Recipes

ITALIAN FRIED OLIVES

Steps:

• Special equipment: a pastry bag, a plain tip with a 1/4-inch opening
• In a small bowl, combine the cheeses, thyme, and lemon zest. Place the cheese mixture into the pastry bag. Pipe the cheese mixture into each olive.
• Place the flour in a small bowl. Pour the beaten egg in another small bowl and the bread crumbs in a third small bowl. Dredge the olives in the flour. Using a slotted spoon, remove the olives and place in the bowl with the beaten egg. Coat the olives with the egg and transfer to the bowl of bread crumbs. Coat the olives with the bread crumbs.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about 1/3of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in a couple of minutes.) Fry the olives, in batches, for 30 to 45 seconds until golden brown. Drain the fried olives on paper towels. Cool for 5 minutes.

ARUGULA SALAD WITH FRIED GORGONZOLA

Steps:

• Blend the Gorgonzola in a food processor until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the work bowl occasionally. Using 1 rounded teaspoon of cheese for each, form the cheese into 18 (1-inch) balls. Working in batches, coat the balls with the egg then with the bread crumbs. Repeat coating the balls in the egg and bread crumbs. Arrange the balls on a small baking sheet. Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• Whisk the lemon juice, garlic, and lemon peel in a medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in 1/3 cup oil. Season the dressing, to taste, with salt and pepper. Set the dressing aside.
• Add enough oil to a heavy small saucepan to come 2 inches up the sides of the pan. Heat the oil over medium heat. At this point, remove the refrigerated Gorgonzola balls from the refrigerator. Working in batches, add the cold balls to the hot oil and fry just until golden brown, about 20 seconds. (It is essential that the Gorgonzola balls be cold when they go into the oil, otherwise they will fall apart in the oil. If they start to warm up at any point, return them to the refrigerator to firm back up.) Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried balls to paper towels to drain.
• Toss the arugula in a large bowl with enough dressing to coat. Season the salad, to taste, with salt and pepper. Mound the salad on plates. Top the salads with the hot fried Gorgonzola balls and serve immediately.

FRIED GORGONZOLA BITES

Steps:

• Line an 8" square baking dish with plastic wrap and spray with vegetable oil spray. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add 3/4 cup of the flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Whisk in the milk and cook over moderately high heat, whisking constantly until thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and whisk in the Gorgonzola until completely melted, about 2 minutes. Add nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Scrape the mixture into the lined baking dish. Smooth the top and coat lightly with vegetable oil spray. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the mixture and freeze until firm but still soft enough to cut, about 3 hours.
• Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Spoon the remaining 1 cup of flour into a shallow bowl. Put the beaten eggs and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Invert the set cheese mixture onto a cutting board and remove the plastic wrap. Using a floured knife, cut the chilled cheese mixture into 1" cubes,wiping the blade between slices. Working with 5 or 6 pieces at a time and keeping the rest refrigerated, dredge the cubes in flour, then in the egg and bread crumbs. Transfer the croquettes to the baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Place a wire rack over a baking sheet and line the rack with paper towels. Pour 1 1/2 inches of oil into a medium saucepan and heat to 365*F. Add 4 or 5 croquettes to the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp, about 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon transfer the croquettes to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining croquettes. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

FRIED GREEN OLIVES STUFFED WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Roll small amount of cheese into log shape narrow enough to stuff into 1 pitted olive; stuff olive with cheese. Repeat with remaining olives and cheese. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Pour enough oil into heavy large skillet to measure depth of 1 inch. Heat oil to 350°F. Roll stuffed olives in flour, then in egg, then in breadcrumbs to coat. Fry olives until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Using slotted spoon, transfer olives to paper towels to drain. Serve hot.

FRIED GORGONZOLA OLIVES

Steps:

• Drain olives well on paper towels. Place Gorgonzola cheese in a pastry bag, or a heavy plastic bag, and squirt into each olive.
• Whisk together the eggs and milk; place the bread crumbs in a shallow bowl. Dip olives in the egg mixture, shake off the excess, and roll in bread crumbs to coat; set aside.
• Heat at least 4 inches of oil in a large pot to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Fry olives in hot oil until golden brown and drain on paper towels. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

SPINACH SALAD WITH GORGONZOLA AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Whisk first 3 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place spinach in large bowl. Arrange mushrooms and olives over spinach. Cook bacon in heavy skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon drippings. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add cheese, cream and mustard mixture to skillet. Stir just until melted and smooth (do not boil). Pour warm dressing over salad. Sprinkle salad with bacon.

DEEP FRIED STUFFED OLIVES

Steps:

• For the olives:.
• Place the olives in a bowl and cover over with water. While preparing the stuffings, let them soak about 30 minutes to remove the excess salt. Drain the water, rinse the olives and dry completely with a paper towel.
• For the stuffings:.
• In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and cook the shallots. Add the ground veal, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook about 5 minutes. Add the veal stock and continue to cook over medium heat until the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Transfer the veal mixture to a bowl. Add the Parmesan, parsley, breadcrumbs and egg. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix together and set aside.
• To assemble:.
• Starting from the end (opposite the hole on top), cut the olive away from the pit in a spiral, as if you're peeling an apple. The olive will coil. Place the olive meat in a bowl.
• Pinch a bit of the veal mixture between your thumb and forefinger and roll into a small ball. Shape the olive meat from half the olives around the filling, so the olive regains its original shape. Place on a baking tray, cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Proceed the same way for remaining olives and the gorgonzola cheese.
• Coat the olives lightly in flour, eggs and breadcrumbs. To avoid the stuffing from seeping out, repeat the process twice to get a thick breading. Set aside.
• Pour the olive oil into a medium frying pan and heat until the oil bubbles. Fry the olives until the breading is golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Serve the olives while warm.
• Cook's Notes:.
• You can try other fillings like feta or smooth goat cheese mixed with lemon zest, garlic and basil. You can also add crushed pine nuts to the cheese or meat mixture.
• For a vegetarian version, try chickpea in puree, basil, olive oil and lemon or orange zests.