Olives and Antipasti Holiday Wreath
Deck the halls… and your holiday table with an incredible Mediterranean-inspired centerpiece loaded with everything they love. This antipasto wreath redefines holiday entertaining and you wouldn’t believe how easy (and fun!) it is to create. SERVES: A CROWD LEVEL: SUPER SIMPLE
Cured Meats & Cheeses:
Hot Pepper Cured Sausage
Sweet Sopressata Mini
Imported Italian Granino Cheese
Wensleydale Crandale
Blue cheese
Small wheel of Brie
Olives & Antipasti:
DeLallo Red Bella Di Cerignola
DeLallo Pitted Olives Jubilee
DeLallo Jumbo Pitted Calamata
DeLallo Pitted Olives Gigante
DeLallo Sweet & Tangy Pepper Drops
DeLallo Garlic Herb Stuffed Pepperazzi™
DeLallo Quartered Marinated Artichokes
Festive Garnishes:
DeLallo Apricot Spread
Crostini Toasts
Pomegranates, Clementines, Fresh cranberries
Dried apricots, Dried figs, Honey comb
Chestnuts, Pistachios, Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts
DIRECTIONS
- First, decide on a size for your wreath. Begin by creating the foundation using assorted greens and fresh herbs.
- Arrange small bowls and plates in and around the greens.
- Decorate your wreath with meats and cheeses. Add in olives, antipasti, spreads and jams. Finish with fresh and dried fruits and nuts.
- Present your wreath with your favorite breads, toasts and crackers.
An Ode to Olives
These little briny fruits can take oil, bread, and even martinis to delicious new heights. So, throw a few on your fingers (come on, nobody’s watching!) and let us introduce you to eight of our all-time favorites.
California Green Olives Gigante
Briny and buttery, these California Sevillano olives are grown and hand-harvested in Northern California. Called “ the single most flavorful olive I’ve ever eaten” by one of our customers, these pre-pitted olives are as perfect for popping in your mouth as they are into a gorgeous plate of deviled eggs or pasta salad. Kissed by a subtle blend of herbs, this meaty olive stands in perfectly in just about any antipasto.
Jumbo Seasoned Calamata
We’ll take anything delicious in jumbo-size, and these bold, tart, smoky Calamatas are no exception. Pitted and packed in a light marinade, these Greek olives come in a resealable pack, so they are always at the ready to add to your Roasted Tomato Caprese Antipasto or any meat and cheese plate that you put together.
Castelvetrano
Known as Italy’s premiere “snack” olive, these Sicilian green olives derive from the variety Nocellara del Belice. Mild in taste, Castelvetranos pair beautifully with white wine and sharp Italian cheese. Serious Eats also recommends trying them with sheep’s milk cheese, such as Pecorino Romano. Try them in salads, in appetizers or even on pizza for a treat. They are pitted to make serving a snap.
Blue-Cheese Stuffed
Though they can make a cocktail positively divine, blue-cheese-stuffed olives are much more versatile than you may think. Wrapped in pastry dough, these cheesy bites of heaven can get a party started like nobody’s business. We begin with the California Sevillanos you already love, pit them and stuf with smooth, tangy cheese. Snack or sip the night away with these elegant showstoppers.
Red and Black Bella di Cerignola
Are these little olives as lovely and exotic as they sound? Yes! Perfect for someone new to the fine art of olive eating, these beauties are grown only in the Foggia region of Puglia, Italy. Mild and buttery, the olives are on the larger side, so they make a big impression on any antipasti board.
Aglio
Did somebody say garlic? Naturally cured in the Sicilian style before being lovingly enveloped in a minced garlic marinade, our Aglio Green Pitted Olives hit the mark. Tart and briny, these olives are a star on any specialty cheese and cured meat plate. For a bit more specific recommendation? Try these California Sevillanos with an aged Farmhouse Cheddar and Periquita wine, Portugal’s first ever bottled red.
Piccante
Our parade of olive perfection ends with the plump, meaty Piccante. Aptly named, these olives are finished with hot chili flakes for a tasty triumvirate of spicy, buttery and tart. Since these little green fireballs bring the heat, you’d be best served to offer a milder cheese like Cheddar on your party tray to balance them out.
Well, looks like we’re all olive-d out for today. But we hope tonight, you raise a glass (blue-cheese stuffed, of course) to the one and only olive. Cheers!
Olive Tapenade
Italian black olives and extra virgin olive oil. Has there ever been a simpler, more perfect union?
Tapenade is indeed a miracle worker— brightening up everything from fish to grilled vegetables to paninis. Try this ready-to-use spread with whipped ricotta and semi-dried tomatoes for a fresh and leisurely stacked toast lunch perfect for al fresco dining.
You’ll love this delicious recipe!
