Ingredients
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 2 cups coarsely chopped pitted green olives (from about 6 ounces unpitted whole olives), divided
- 3 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound gemelli, fusilli, or rotelle pasta
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 8-ounce package small (cherry-size) fresh mozzarella balls in water
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- Ingredient info: Fresh mozzarella balls packed in water are available at many supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Italian markets.
Preparation
Step 1
With machine running, add garlic clove to processor through feed tube and process until finely chopped; turn off machine. Add 1 cup chopped olives, capers, red wine vinegar, anchovy paste, mustard, and crushed red pepper. Using 6 on/off turns, process to chop coarsely. With machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup olive oil, forming coarse puree. Transfer to bowl; stir in remaining 1 cup olives. Season olivada to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Olivada can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain well. Transfer drained pasta to large bowl. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon oil over pasta; toss to coat. Cool, stirring occasionally.
Add olivada, halved tomatoes, mozzarella, and oregano to pasta; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
When the pasta was finished cooking, I drained it, placed it in a bowl and immediately mixed the olivada into the hot pasta, stirring it around so the pasta would absorb the flavors. I later mixed in the additional ingredients, adding a can of drained cannellini beans as another reviewer had noted.
I purchased Olive Tapenade from Trader Joe's and just mixed in with the pasta and the rest of the ingredients. I decided to make it more of a "greek" recipe and used feta cheese instead of mozzarella. I also added shrimp and white beans to make it a meal. It was fast, easy, and delicious!
I used Feta cheese, black olives and roasted red peppers and it was out of this world.