Kalamata Olive Dip Recipe
Introduction
This Kalamata Olive Dip is a creamy, savory appetizer perfect for entertaining or snacking. Combining tangy olives with smooth cream cheese and flavorful spices, it comes together quickly with just a few simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 250 grams (8.8 oz) kalamata olives, pitted and drained, reserving some brine (do not rinse)
- 250 grams (8.8 oz) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 tablespoon olive brine
- 1 tablespoon dried onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- To serve: pita chips or crackers
Instructions
- Step 1: Add the pitted and drained kalamata olives to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse for about 5 seconds to roughly chop the olives. Remove the lid and scrape down the sides with a spatula.
- Step 2: Add the cream cheese, garlic powder, dried onion, and olive brine to the processor. Blitz for another 5 seconds, scrape down the sides again, and blitz once more until fully combined and creamy.
- Step 3: Transfer the dip into a serving bowl using a spatula. Serve with pita chips or crackers spread around the bowl.
Tips & Variations
- Use cream cheese at room temperature for easier blending and a smoother dip.
- Dried onion adds a rich flavor without the tears—if substituting with onion powder, reduce the amount to 1 teaspoon.
- If you don’t have a food processor, hand-chop the olives finely and mix everything together thoroughly with a spoon or spatula.
Storage
Store leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Before serving again, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to soften slightly. Stir well before serving.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use whipped cream cheese instead of regular cream cheese?
Whipped cream cheese is lighter and sweeter, so it’s not recommended for this dip, which benefits from the firm texture and tang of regular cream cheese.
Do I need to weigh the olives or just use a jar?
Simply use a jar of kalamata olives that weighs about 250 grams and drain off the brine, reserving a tablespoon for the recipe. No exact weighing is necessary.
PrintKalamata Olive Dip Recipe
This creamy and tangy Kalamata Olive Dip is a flavorful appetizer perfect for parties or casual snacking. Made with pitted Kalamata olives, cream cheese, garlic powder, dried onion, and olive brine, this easy-to-make dip delivers robust Mediterranean flavors in just minutes using a food processor. Serve it with pita chips or crackers for an irresistible start to any gathering.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 1.5 cups (serves 6 as appetizer) 1x
- Category: Appetizer, Dip
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Western
Ingredients
Dip Ingredients
- 250 grams (8.8 oz) Kalamata olives, pitted and drained (reserve some brine, do not rinse)
- 250 grams (8.8 oz) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 tbsp olive brine (reserved from olives)
- 1 tbsp dried onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
To Serve
- Pita chips or crackers
Instructions
- Roughly chop olives: Place the pitted Kalamata olives into the bowl of a food processor and pulse for about 5 seconds just to roughly chop them. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure even chopping.
- Combine ingredients: Add softened cream cheese, garlic powder, dried onion, and reserved olive brine to the chopped olives in the food processor. Pulse for 5 seconds, scrape down the bowl sides again, then pulse a final time until well combined but still slightly chunky for texture.
- Serve the dip: Transfer the dip into a serving bowl using a spatula. Place a cheese knife with the dip and arrange pita chips or crackers around the bowl for spreading and dipping.
Notes
- Kalamata Olives: Use a full 250 gram jar of Kalamata olives, drained but not rinsed. Reserve some of the olive brine to add flavor to the dip.
- Cream Cheese: Use cream cheese at room temperature for easier blending and a smooth texture.
- Dried Onion: This ingredient adds a full onion flavor and is found in the herbs and spices section. You can substitute with 1 teaspoon onion powder if preferred.
- Mixing Alternative: If you don’t have a food processor, you can roughly hand chop the olives and mix all ingredients by hand after softening the cream cheese.
Keywords: greek olive dip, kalamata olive dip, olive dip recipe, easy appetizer, creamy olive dip
