Olive all'Ascolana

Behold, in all their majesty: deep. fried. olives.

I really thought that I might be the first person in the world to have thought of frying olives.  Turns out it's a classic Italian recipe called Olive all'Ascolana.  But, oh boy! They're fun.  I stuffed mine with a goat cheese mixed with rosemary, garlic, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes, rolled them in egg and breadcrumbs, fried them, and then topped them with feathery shavings of cheese and lemon zest.  These make for a very happy little snack :)

Olive all'Ascolana

• 24 large green olives, pitted
• 1/2 cup goat cheese
• 1 teaspoon whole mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped fine
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup breadcrumbs (fresh or panko)
• 1/3 cup parmigiano reggiano, or similar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• parmigiano reggiano, for sprinkling
• zest and juice from one lemon, for sprinkling

1. In a small bowl, mix the goat cheese, mustard seed, rosemary, chile flakes, and garlic. Stuff the olives with the cheese mixture (I like to use my fingers, but you could also use a piping bag if you're really classy). Put the stuffed olives on a plate and refrigerate for 20 minutes, to let the cheese firm up.
2. While the olives are chilling, heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan to 375 degrees.
3. Set up three plates for your breading station. Put the flour on one plate, the beaten egg on the next, and mix the bread crumbs and cheese on the last plate.
4. When the olives have chilled, roll half of them in the flour, then in the egg, then in the bread crumbs, and carefully drop them into the heated oil. Fry until golden brown, about one minute per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain, and repeat with the remaining olives.
5. Pile on a plate and finish with a shower of freshly grated cheese and lemon zest and a spritz of lemon.

Snuggles likes goat cheese.