Savory Tuna and Olive Muffins

Savory tuna and olive muffins are a tasty twist on the more classic sweet muffins and can be a great idea for a fancy appetizer or aperitif.

Ingredients

• 250 grams of flour
• 2 eggs
• 100 ml of milk
• 80 ml of olive oil
• 1 can of tuna in oil (about 160 grams drained)
• 100 grams of pitted black olives
• 1 packet of baking powder for savory preparations (about 16 grams)
• Salt, as needed
• Pepper, as needed
• A handful of chopped chives (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C and prepare a muffin tray by lining the individual cavities with paper liners or grease and flour them to prevent the muffins from sticking.
2. In a bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder for savory preparations, add a pinch of salt and pepper, and mix.
3. In another bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and olive oil until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.
4. Add the drained and crumbled tuna, the chopped black olives, and the chives to the egg mixture, stirring gently.
5. Gradually incorporate the wet ingredients into the flour mix, stirring with a spatula with movements from the bottom up to not deflate the batter.
6. Fill the liners about 2/3 of their height with the batter and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are well browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Let the muffins cool for a few minutes in the tray, then transfer them onto a rack to finish cooling.

Curiosity

These savory muffins can be personalized in many ways. For instance, you can add grated Parmesan or other types of cheese to enrich the flavor or include ingredients such as diced peppers, grated zucchini, or bacon for variations on the theme. In Italy, these muffins pair perfectly as an appetizer in a meal or as a snack.