Green Olive & Almond Spread

From EatingWell: July/August 2007 — Subscribe Now!

Serve this simple but unique spread with zucchini or cucumber rounds or fire-toasted thin baguette slices.

1/2 cup, for 6 appetizer servings

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Ingredients

1/2 cup pitted briny green olives
1/4 cup Marcona almonds, or other almonds, toasted (see Ingredient Note and Kitchen Tip)
1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

Combine olives, almonds, tarragon and lemon juice in a food processor. Pulse until roughly chopped. Add oil in a steady stream and process just until the oil is absorbed. (Alternatively, finely chop the olives, almonds and tarragon by hand and combine with lemon juice and oil in a medium bowl.) The spread should have a coarse but easily spoonable texture. Let stand for about 30 minutes for the flavor to develop.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Ingredient note: Spanish Marcona almonds have recently become more popular and more available. They're a little flatter than ordinary almonds, with a richer flavor. Always skinned, most Marcona almonds have already been sautÃ©ed in oil and lightly salted when you get them.
Kitchen Tip: To toast almonds, spread on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F, stirring once, until fragrant, 7 to 9 minutes.

Nutrition

Per serving: 71 calories; 7 g fat (1 g sat, 5 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 2 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 147 mg sodium; 7 mg potassium.

Exchanges: 1 1/2 fat