Olive ascolane

Olive Ascolane

Olive Ascolane

Olive Ascolane is a traditional Italian dish originating from the city of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region. It is a popular street food and appetizer, known for its delicious combination of flavors and textures.

Ingredients

To make Olive Ascolane, you will need the following ingredients:

• Large green olives
• Ground meat (a mixture of beef, pork, and chicken)
• Parmesan cheese
• Bread crumbs
• Eggs
• All-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper
• Nutmeg
• Vegetable oil (for frying)

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the olives. Carefully remove the pits from the olives, taking care not to damage the flesh. You can use a small knife or a special olive pitter for this step.

2. In a bowl, combine the ground meat with grated Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, eggs, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated.

3. Take a small portion of the meat mixture and shape it into a ball. Flatten the ball slightly and wrap it around an olive, covering it completely. Repeat this process for all the olives.

4. In separate bowls, place the flour, beaten eggs, and bread crumbs. Roll each stuffed olive in flour, dip it in the beaten eggs, and then coat it with bread crumbs. Make sure each olive is well coated.

5. Heat vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or a deep fryer. The oil should be hot enough to fry the olives but not smoking. Carefully place the coated olives in the hot oil and fry them until golden brown and crispy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes.

6. Once fried, remove the olives from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

Serving

Olive Ascolane is typically served hot as an appetizer or a snack. It can be enjoyed on its own or accompanied by a dipping sauce, such as marinara or aioli. The crispy exterior and the savory meat filling make it a delightful treat for olive lovers.

Variations

While the traditional recipe calls for a meat filling, there are variations of Olive Ascolane that cater to different dietary preferences. Some recipes use a vegetarian filling made with cheese, breadcrumbs, and herbs. Others may incorporate seafood or vegetables into the filling.

See Also

• Ascoli Piceno
• Italian Cuisine