Description
Warm Mediterranean flavors dance through Olive and Cheese French Bread Melts, creating a simple yet irresistible culinary experience. Crispy bread, melted cheese, and briny olives combine for a quick lunch that transports you straight to a sunny coastal kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Olive Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 7 ounces (198 grams) green olives, drained and sliced
- 6 ounces (170 grams) black olives, drained and sliced
Bread and Base Ingredients:
- 8–10 ounces (226–283 grams) French bread loaf
- 6 ounces (170 grams) full fat sour cream
- 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) softened butter
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) thinly sliced green onions
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Fresh cracked pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350°F for optimal baking conditions.
- Create a creamy base by whisking sour cream, softened butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth and well-integrated.
- Enhance the mixture by folding in shredded Monterey Jack cheese and thinly sliced green onions, ensuring even distribution.
- Gently incorporate sliced green and black olives into the cheese blend, maintaining a balanced texture.
- Transform the French bread loaf by cutting it horizontally and then vertically, creating four distinct bread sections.
- Generously spread the olive-cheese mixture across the exposed bread surfaces, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Position the prepared bread sections in the preheated oven, allowing them to bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese melts and bread edges turn golden.
- Activate the broiler for 1-2 minutes to achieve a rich, dark golden-brown cheese surface with slight caramelization.
- Carefully slice the melted bread into serving portions, optionally garnishing with fresh parsley for a vibrant finishing touch, and serve immediately while warm and aromatic.
Notes
- Customize cheese varieties by swapping Monterey Jack with cheddar, provolone, or gouda for different flavor profiles.
- Enhance Mediterranean vibes by using kalamata olives instead of traditional green and black olives for deeper, richer taste.
- Reduce dairy content by substituting sour cream with Greek yogurt or plant-based alternatives for lighter, healthier version.
- Transform this appetizer into a complete meal by adding protein like shredded rotisserie chicken or crispy bacon bits before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 292 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg