I hosted an aperitivo hour with some friends and put together the perfect menu. There are A LOT of things I love about Italy and the Italian lifestyle, but aperitivo hour is at the very top of my list! And I’m bringing La Dolce Vita home with a cocktail and food pairing in this reel that was perfect for summer hosting! This was our way of bringing a slice of Italy home with us!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 (6-ounce) jars pitted Castelvetrano olives, strained
- Caciocavallo, cubed (you can also use provolone, scamorza, or aged mozzarella [low-moisture])
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Step-By-Step Instructions
- In a small pot, combine the olive oil, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon zest, oregano and red pepper and simmer over medium heat. If you prefer, you can skip heating entirely and simply mix everything together. Just note that the flavors will be a bit brighter and less blended.
- Pour the olive oil mixture over the olives and cubed Caciocavallo.
- Toss, garnish with salt and pepper, and serve warm.