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Bright and briny with a pop of freshness, these Olive Appetizers are a delicious starter or side dish and can easily double as a salad topper. Shaped like flowers, they’re a great last-minute appetizer and couldn’t be easier to make!
I’m a big fan of olives and use them in a variety of recipes, such as my hummus platter and tuna cottage cheese salad. However, these olive sticks are by far one of my favorite olive recipes.
I first started making them on a whim, out of a need to use up olives. However, they’ve since become a staple at all my warm-weather gatherings. With no actual cooking required, they’re a great option to keep hosting easy, and the fun shape always impresses guests!
Recipe Tip
If you don’t have skewers, simply arrange the appetizers in a bowl!
❤️Why You’ll Love Olive Appetizers
- Easy to assemble at a moment’s notice.
- Three-ingredient appetizer.
- Impressive and fun to eat.
Ingredients for Olive Appetizers
Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!
- Olives: Technically, any olives will work, but I prefer green olives filled with almonds for this dish. Look for firm olives that will hold their shape when skewered.
- Tomatoes: Use yellow grape tomatoes for a pretty flower appearance. I find they have a slightly sweeter flavor than red varieties, providing a nice contrast to the briny olives.
- Fresh basil leaves: These replicate flower leaves and add a bright, aromatic taste.
How to Make Olive Sticks with Tomatoes
- Prepare the tomatoes. Slice the tomatoes ¾ of the way through in a cross pattern. Be careful not to slice all the way through!
- Scrape out the flesh in the center.
- Assemble. Place an olive inside the tomato, and skewer it through the center.
- Top with basil leaves, and enjoy! I like to use basil that is slightly wet so that it sticks to the tomatoes.
Possible Variations
- Olives: Swap for Kalamata olives, black olives, feta- or blue cheese-stuffed olives, garlic-stuffed olives, or olives stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes for an extra punch of flavor.
- Tomatoes: Try red grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.
- Basil: Swap basil for other fresh herbs, such as oregano or mint leaves.
How to Store Leftovers
Keep leftover sticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 2 days.
FAQs
I love to add these sticks to an appetizer platter alongside bite-sized snacks, such as phyllo appetizers, avocado appetizer bites, and caprese bites. However, they also make for a tasty side with grilled meats and main courses. Or, skip the skewers and use them as a topping on salads!
You can assemble these skewers up to a few hours in advance. Store them covered in the fridge. Take them out 30 minutes before serving so they are room temperature. Top with basil leaves.
More Tomato Recipes
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Olive Appetizers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 olives, green
- 10 grape tomatoes, yellow
- 20 basil leaves, fresh
Instructions
- Cut the tomatoes ¾ way through in a cross.
- Scrape out the insides with a spoon to make room for the olive.
- Place the olive inside the tomato.
- Stick a skewer stick into the tomato and olive.
- Top with basil leaves to resemble flowers (if they are slightly wet, they will stick on).
- Serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
