Dreamy Dip for Olive Lovers

Ingredients

• 1 cup Pitted mixed green and black olives (Coarsely chopped; a mixture of Castelvetrano and Kalamata works especially well.)
• 4 oz Cream cheese (Softened at room temperature.)
• 0.5 cup Greek yogurt (Can be substituted with sour cream.)
• 0.25 cup Mayonnaise (For a lighter version, use additional Greek yogurt and omit the mayonnaise.)
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 2 Garlic (Peeled cloves; they can be chopped before processing.)
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Lemon zest
• 0.5 tsp Dried oregano
• 0.25 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes (Optional; add jalapeño or more flakes for a spicier dip.)
• Black pepper (To taste.)
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley (Chopped.)

Steps

1. 1

   Chop the pitted olives into small but irregular pieces. Alternatively, pulse them briefly in a food processor; stop before they become a paste to preserve some texture.

2. 2

   Place the softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and mayonnaise in a bowl or food processor.

3. 3

   Add the olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice and zest, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes, if using.

4. 4

   Process or mix until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl or container as needed to incorporate all the ingredients.

5. 5

   Fold in the chopped olives and fresh parsley with a spatula or spoon, mixing gently to preserve the olives' texture.

6. 6

   Taste the dip and adjust the pepper. Salt usually is not needed because the olives are already salty.

7. 7

   Cover the container and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes so the flavors can meld and the dip can chill.

8. 8

   Serve chilled with toasted bread, crostini, pita chips, or crackers. It can also be used as a spread for sandwiches or wraps, or served with vegetables or grilled chicken.

Notes

Store the dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. For a vegan version, substitute the cream cheese and yogurt with plant-based alternatives. To make it lighter, use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. The recipe yields approximately 3 cups of dip.

Nutrition per serving

• snack
• dip
• vegetarian
• Mediterranean
• meatless
• no-cook
• creamy
• for sharing