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What to Serve With Olives: 15 Best Side Dishes

Enhancing your olive spread with the right side dishes can transform a simple snack into a gourmet experience. Pair your olives with a cheese platter featuring sharp cheddar, creamy brie, and tangy blue cheese for a delightful contrast. Crusty sourdough bread and dipping oils provide a satisfying texture. A charcuterie board with prosciutto, salami, and nuts adds savory variety. Greek salad brings fresh flavors, while creamy hummus complements the briny olives. For an elevated touch, include smoked salmon, prosciutto wraps, and Caprese skewers. Pita chips add extra crunch. Discover how these pairings make your olive taste journey even more exciting!

Cheese Platter

fruity nutty and creamy

A well-curated cheese platter pairs harmoniously with olives, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures.

Consider including various cheese types like sharp cheddar, creamy brie, and tangy blue. Each cheese type creates a unique pairing experience with olives.

For an elevated experience, suggest a wine pairing; a robust red complements sharp cheeses, while a crisp white enhances creamy varieties.

Crusty Bread

comforting homemade sourdough loaf

Crusty bread serves as an ideal accompaniment to olives, providing a satisfying contrast in texture and a neutral base that highlights the olives' flavors.

Sourdough bread, with its tangy taste and firm crust, works exceptionally well. Pairing it with dipping oils enhances the experience, offering a rich, flavorful complement that brings out the best in both the bread and the olives.

Charcuterie Board

delicious selection of meats

A charcuterie board provides a diverse and flavorful assortment that pairs exceptionally well with olives, enhancing their savory profile.

The careful meat selection, like prosciutto and salami, complements the briny taste of olives.

Add cheeses, nuts, and fruits for variety.

A thoughtful wine pairing, such as a crisp white or robust red, elevates the experience, making it perfect for any gathering.

Greek Salad

healthy and refreshing dish

Moving from the rich flavors of a charcuterie board, another delightful way to enjoy olives is by incorporating them into a traditional Greek salad.

This vibrant dish features juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and tangy feta cheese, all brought together with a revitalizing lemon dressing.

The olives add a savory depth, making this salad a perfect side dish that is both nutritious and delicious.

Hummus Dip

healthy and versatile dip

Enhance your appetizer spread by pairing olives with a creamy hummus dip, offering a delightful blend of textures and flavors.

The rich, creamy texture of hummus complements the briny, firm olives, creating a harmonious balance.

Infused with Mediterranean flavors, hummus provides a nutritious and delicious option that encourages dipping and sharing, making it an ideal companion for your olive assortment.

Roasted Nuts

textural description of snack

Complementing the creamy hummus and briny olives, roasted nuts add a satisfying crunch and a rich, toasty flavor to your appetizer spread. Nut varieties like almonds, cashews, and walnuts offer diverse texture and taste.

Flavor pairings such as rosemary almonds or honey-glazed cashews create delightful contrasts, enhancing the overall experience. These combinations guarantee a harmonious and delectable addition to your culinary ensemble.

Marinated Artichokes

tasty marinated artichokes recipe

Frequently found alongside olives, marinated artichokes provide a tangy and savory element that enhances any appetizer spread. Their robust flavor profiles make them an excellent wine pairing, elevating the overall tasting experience.

Whether enjoyed alone or as part of a larger platter, marinated artichokes bring a delightful complexity that complements the briny richness of olives, creating a harmonious culinary combination.

Tapenade Spread

savory olive paste option

A tapenade spread, made from finely chopped olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil, offers a rich and savory addition to any appetizer selection.

This delightful blend showcases unique flavor profiles from each ingredient, creating a perfectly balanced combination.

Spread it on crusty bread or serve with fresh vegetables to elevate your snack game, ensuring a memorable culinary experience for your guests.

Stuffed Peppers

delicious vegetarian stuffed peppers

Stuffed peppers offer a delectable and visually appealing dish that pairs well with a variety of meals. Using colorful bell peppers and a spicy stuffing, these stuffed delights bring a burst of flavor and a touch of elegance to any table.

Filled with a savory mixture of olives, rice, and herbs, stuffed peppers are perfect for those looking to add a Mediterranean twist to their dining experience.

Grilled Vegetables

delicious bbq side dish

Grilled vegetables, with their smoky char and robust flavors, provide a delightful complement to olives in any meal. Utilizing a seasonal selection guarantees the freshest and most vibrant options.

Bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant are excellent choices, creating a perfect flavor pairing with olives. The combination of these tastes and textures enhances the dining experience, making it both satisfying and memorable.

Fresh Figs

fruit and honey delight

In addition to grilled vegetables, fresh figs offer a naturally sweet and sophisticated counterpoint to the briny richness of olives. Their luscious texture and unique flavor make them perfect for fig cocktails or fig desserts.

Whether paired in a salad or served on a charcuterie board, fresh figs elevate the overall dining experience, adding both visual appeal and taste complexity.

Smoked Salmon

delicious delicacy from scotland

Smoked salmon provides a luxurious, savory contrast to the briny flavor profile of olives, making it an excellent choice for sophisticated appetizers and canapés.

These smoked salmon appetizers are perfect for any gathering, offering a delightful blend of tastes.

Ideal smoked salmon pairings with olives can include cream cheese, capers, and thinly sliced red onions, creating an elegant and delicious combination.

Prosciutto Wraps

delicious prosciutto appetizer idea

Prosciutto wraps offer a savory, elegant option that pairs beautifully with the rich, briny flavor of olives. The salty prosciutto complements the olives, creating delightful flavor combinations.

For serving suggestions, consider wrapping prosciutto around melon slices or asparagus spears. This simple yet sophisticated dish is perfect for enhancing any appetizer spread, providing a balanced, flavorful experience for your guests.

Caprese Skewers

delicious summer party appetizer

Complementing the savory prosciutto wraps, Caprese skewers offer a fresh, vibrant option that pairs seamlessly with the rich, briny flavor of olives. Crafted with juicy tomato, fragrant basil, and creamy mozzarella skewers, this dish delivers a delightful burst of flavors and textures.

The combination of tomato basil and mozzarella creates a balanced, light bite, making it an ideal accompaniment to olives.

What Are Some Side Dishes That Pair Well With Olives?

Some of the best side dishes for steak tartare that pair well with olives include roasted vegetables, such as tomatoes and bell peppers, as well as fresh salads with feta cheese and a light vinaigrette. The salty and briny flavor of olives can complement the bold flavors of steak tartare.

Pita Chips

crunchy seasoned baked snack

Pita chips provide a crunchy, versatile option that pairs well with the robust flavors of olives. Perfect for dipping into Mediterranean dips like hummus or tzatziki, they complement olives beautifully.

Additionally, pita chips make an excellent base for flavorsome spreads such as tapenade or baba ganoush. Their satisfying texture and mild taste enhance the overall Mediterranean dining experience, making them a delightful pairing.