Marinated Olives Over Whipped Goat Cheese
There are appetizers… and then there are show-stopping appetizers you end up making on repeat because everyone begs for the recipe. This Marinated Olives Over Whipped Goat Cheese is absolutely one of those. Warm citrusy olives, a silky goat cheese spread, and crusty bread to scoop it all up, it’s elegant, it’s simple, and it tastes like something you’d order at a little wine bar.
If you want a fast, impressive starter for holidays, dinner parties, or girls’ night, this is the one.
Before You Get Started
A few quick notes to help everything turn out extra delicious:
- Use good-quality olives — Castelvetranos give you that buttery bite.
- Let the goat cheese come to room temp so it whips extra smooth.
- Don’t skip the citrus! It totally brightens the olives and makes them feel restaurant-level.
What You Need to Make Marinated Olives Over Whipped Goat Cheese
For the Warm Marinated Olives:
- Castelvetrano olives
- Black olives
- Olive oil
- Orange zest
- Strips of orange peel
- Red pepper flakes
- Minced garlic
- Salt and pepper
For the Whipped Goat Cheese:
- Plain goat cheese
- Garlic and herb goat cheese
- Whipped cream cheese
- Olive oil
- Olive brine
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Salt and pepper
- Water (for consistency)
How to Make Marinated Olives Over Whipped Goat Cheese
1
Warm the Marinated Olives
Preheat the oven and combine your olives with olive oil, orange zest, orange peel, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Let them roast just long enough to warm through and release their aromatics.
2
Whip the Goat Cheese
Add both goat cheeses, whipped cream cheese, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive brine, and seasonings to a food processor. Blend until completely smooth and fluffy, adding a splash of water if needed to loosen it.
3
Assemble
Spread the goat cheese in a shallow serving bowl. Spoon the warm marinated olives right over the top, drizzling the infused orange-garlic olive oil all around. Serve immediately with warm bread, toasted baguette slices, or your favorite crackers.
Pro Tip
Make the olives up to one day ahead and rewarm them for a few minutes before serving. The flavors deepen overnight and the citrus shines even more.
Marinated Olives Over Whipped Goat Cheese
Ingredients
Warm Marinated Olives
- 1 jar Castelvetrano olives drained
- 1 jar black olives drained
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Zest of 1 orange
- A few strips of orange peel
- ½ –1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 –3 cloves minced garlic
- Salt & pepper to taste
Whipped Goat Cheese
- 4 oz plain goat cheese
- 4 oz garlic & herb goat cheese
- 2 tbsp whipped cream cheese
- 1 –2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 –2 tsp olive brine more to taste
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Water as needed for consistency
Instructions
Make the Warm Marinated Olives
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- In a small baking dish, combine the Castelvetrano olives, black olives, olive oil, orange zest, orange peel, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Toss everything together and bake for 12–15 minutes, just until warmed and fragrant.
Whip the Goat Cheese
- In a food processor, add plain goat cheese, garlic & herb goat cheese, whipped cream cheese, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, a splash of olive brine, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Add a splash of water, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach a soft, whipped consistency.
Assemble
- Spread the whipped goat cheese onto a serving dish or bowl.
- Spoon the warm marinated olives right over the top, making sure to drizzle some of that infused olive oil.
- Serve immediately with crostinis, crackers, or warm toasted bread.
