Polenta Crusted Stuffed Olives: Celebrating WA beer week

Day four in our week long series of 'cooking with beer' recipes in celebration of beer week here in WA. This one is a sensational tasty snack that is at its best when enjoyed with a sessionable beer. Although we made it with Feral Belgian White, Billabong A.P.A can be substituted for coeliacs. And if you’re not a fan of smoked cheese, then any semi-hard cheese will suffice.

Polenta Crusted Stuffed Olives
Ingredients:
- 12 mammoth green olives (pitted)
- 100g smoked cheese (small pieces)
- 1 cup beer Feral White (or Billabong A.P.A for GF)
- ½ cup plain flour or GF plain flour (sifted)
- 1 cup cornflour (sifted)
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 cup fine polenta meal
- 500ml olive oil or grapeseed oil (for frying)
- Pinch salt

1. Pre-heat oven to 160°C.
2. In a large bowl make a batter with beer, pepper, plain flour and half of the corn flour. Alternating & whisking well between each addition. Allow to rest. This is a very thick batter that creates a great crust on the olive.
3. Insert cheese pieces into cavity of olive. You will need to get your fingers dirty for this one and make sure that the cheese is well stuffed inside the olive.
4. Toss olives in remaining corn flour, ensuring they are thoroughly coated.
5. Roll olives in thick batter, then roll in the polenta meal. Gently roll each olive between your palms to firmly attach the crust.
6. Gently place the prepared olives in hot oil and fry until golden (should be a about 4 mins).
7. Remove from oil, drain on a paper towel and sprinkle with a little salt whilst hot.

Throughout the week long celebration of Western Australian brewing we will post the daily events, results and a 'cooking with beer' recipe for your delictation. So please pop back daily to see whats happening and try and get out & about to support your local brewers. If you cant support them this week, then don't forget that you can take part in a celebration of WA brewing every week with a trip on The Brewers Dray - Boutique Beer Explorer, and whats more, all new tour bookings for June & July made during WA beer week will be entitled to a

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