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    Home » Quick and Easy

    Marinated Warm Olives

    Published: Sep 18, 2019 · Modified: Jul 5, 2020 by Marcellina

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    Italian marinated warm olives are a delicious addition to an antipasto plate. You can make them yourself in just 10 minutes!!

    Plus they are so easy to make yourself with this simple recipe.

    white plate of assorted olives viewed from the front.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Olives are definitely a polarising food. You either love them or you hate them. If you fall into the first category you will love this recipe for marinating olives and you'll also love my Calabrese Pizza.

    Easy make ahead appetisers are my favourite. It just makes life so much easier. Our Italian tradition is to serve antipasto before each feast and typically that would be Italian cured meats such as salami and prosciutto plus cheeses and marinated vegetables. While olives are delicious as they are, warming them with some aromatics brings out the flavour and makes these olives addictive!

    This recipe is my adaption of Olive Siciliane Saltate from "My Taste of Sicily" by the Australian cook, Dominique Rizzo. Similarly, I think you will like my recipe for Marinated Eggplant which is also from the same cookbook.

    These Italian marinated warm olives take olives to the next level. Even just a bowl of these olives would be perfect with a drink at the end of the day!

    Ingredient notes

    chilli, dried herbs, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest, zested lemon on a wooden board with olives, zested lemon and zester viewed from above.

    Because this recipe is so simple and requires so few ingredients, it is important to choose the best quality possible.  You will need:-

    • extra virgin olive oil which is fresh and fragrant.
    • fresh garlic.
    • lemons for juice and zest.
    • herbs - I use dried for convenience but be sure you replace your dried herbs regularly.
    • chilli
    • finally olives - be sure to buy good quality unpitted olives from a deli that has high turnover

    Variations

    Flavourings can be adjusted to suit your tastes:-

    • chilli is optional, use less or don't use at all
    • herbs can be substituted for fresh
    • herbs can be substituted - rosemary or thyme are also delicious

    Additional flavourings to use:-

    • capers or caperberries
    • cumin seeds
    • coriander seeds
    • orange zest

    Instructions

    Preparing warm olives is super simple but there are a few things to keep in mind.

    1. Heat the extra virgin olive oil gently.
    2. Add garlic and herbs to warm oil.
    3. Don't allow garlic to colour or brown at all.
    4. Add olives and let them swim in the flavoured oil.
    5. A little bit of lemon juice added at the end for a tangy finish.
    6. Serve warm or at room temperature for optimal flavour.

    Tips for success and FAQ's

    white plate with assorted olives in olive oil and a spoon viewed from above.

    This most important tips start when you are shopping for ingredients.

    1. Buy unpitted olives. Unpitted olives have all the flavour. I like to buy from my local Italian deli and choose a variety of green and black olives.
    2. Choose good quality extra virgin olive oil.
    3. Dried herbs become stale quickly so replace dried herbs regularly.

    Then when preparing

    1. Warm olives gently. Be sure not to turn the heat up too much or the garlic and herbs will burn.
    2. Check the chilli by tasting because the heat factor can vary greatly.
    3.  Add lemon juice at the end to ensure tangy freshness.

    Finally serve with a small bowl for stones.

    How to store warm olives and for how long.

    This recipe wonderful because it can be made ahead of time for easy entertaining. These olives will keep quite well for at least two weeks in the refrigerator and possibly longer and the flavour will intensify. For optimal flavour remember to bring the olives to room temperature or warm gently in a pan before serving.
    It is normal for the olive oil to solidify in the fridge. When at room temperature the olive oil will return to liquid with no change to the flavour or texture.

    More Italian appetisers.

    Italian appetisers are generally simple with few ingredients and mostly easy to make ahead. As well as my Bagna Cauda here are some other recipes you might like to try. Just click on to the name to be taken right to the recipe.

    • Olivada
    • Prosciutto and parmesan twists
    • Bruschetta with Mozzarella
    • Prosciutto wrapped asparagus

    Recipe

    white plate with assorted olives in olive oil and a spoon viewed from above

    Marinated Warm Olives Recipe

    Italian marinated warm olives are a delicious addition to an antipasto plate. This is an easy recipe that can be made in advance.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings:4 servings as antipasto
    Author: Marcellina

    Ingredients

    • 1½ cups mixed olives (stone in) See Note 1
    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic peeled and sliced
    • 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
    • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 1 fresh red chilli optional
    • finely grated zest of 1 lemon
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Pour olive oil into a small frying pan and place over a gently heat.
    • Immediately add garlic, fennel seeds, dried oregano, chilli and lemon zest.
    • Stir to combine and heat for 1 minute or until becoming aromatic. Don’t allow to heat too much. The garlic at no time should brown.
    • Add the olives and heat, stirring and coating the olives in the fragrant oil for 3 minutes or until completely heated through.
    • Add the lemon juice and simmer for 30 seconds.
    • Serve warm olives with crusty bread.

    Notes

    1. Olives with pits usually taste better than their pitted counterparts. But use what you prefer - the marinade is what counts in this recipe.
    Variations
    Flavourings can be adjusted to suit your tastes:-
    • chilli is optional, use less or don't use at all
    • herbs can be substituted for fresh 
    • herbs can be substitued - rosemary or thyme are also delicious
    Additional flavourings to use:-
    • capers or caperberries
    • cumin seeds
    • coriander seeds
    • orange zest

    Nutritional Information Per Serving

    Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 976mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 370IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.

    Tried this recipe? I'd love to see!Mention @marcellina.in.cucina or tag #marcellinaincucina

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Tish

      April 27, 2023 at 6:30 am

      Why do you use olives with pits?

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        April 27, 2023 at 8:05 am

        Olives with pits usually taste better than their pitted counterparts. But use what you prefer - the marinade is what counts in this recipe.

        Reply
    2. Pamela Oliva

      August 28, 2020 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      Amazing recipe!!!!

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        August 29, 2020 at 3:29 pm

        I'm glad you like it Pamela!

        Reply
      • Lina

        April 26, 2021 at 4:05 am

        These look so good. What kind of olives do you use? Jarred or ones that are already spiced

        Reply
        • Marcellina

          April 26, 2021 at 5:13 pm

          Hi Lina, these olives are just regular cured olives. Purchase them either in the deli or use jarred ones.

          Reply
    3. Frank

      October 07, 2019 at 12:43 am

      I love olives, too. Although I have to admit, I've never tried them this way. Warming them must really bring out their lovely flavor.

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        October 10, 2019 at 5:25 pm

        Frank, warming them was a revelation for me. We had never warmed olives in my Italian family but it really does bring out the flavour!

        Reply
    4. Sylvie

      October 01, 2019 at 6:25 pm

      Perfect idea for a party appetiser or just to snack on at home!

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        October 02, 2019 at 8:01 pm

        Mmmm, love snacking on these!

        Reply
    5. Robyn

      October 01, 2019 at 5:08 pm

      These look wonderful! I have never marinated olive before but I really think I should give them a go!

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        October 02, 2019 at 8:01 pm

        Robyn, you really should! I've eaten olives all my life but warm marinated olives are amazing!

        Reply
    6. Kelly | Foodtasia

      September 22, 2019 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      Marcellina, these marinated olives look so wonderful! We are big olive eaters and these would be a big hit!

      Reply
    7. Zaza

      September 19, 2019 at 2:44 am

      5 stars
      What a great idea! I have never marinated my own olives. Your photos are beautiful and your marinated olives sound delicious, Marcellina!

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        September 19, 2019 at 7:51 am

        Zaza, you really should do this. It's so easy and yum!

        Reply
    8. Mimi

      September 18, 2019 at 10:34 pm

      I just realized that I haven’t marinated my own olives in years! It’s funny how you can just forget certain things. This is a lovely recipe, and I love that you serve the olives warm.

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        September 19, 2019 at 7:51 am

        I know, I do that all the time...forget some great recipes. Serving them warm is amazing!

        Reply

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