Warm Marinated Olives

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Warm marinated olives are a delicious addition to an antipasto plate.

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

An easy recipe for homemade olives in marinade.

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. It is very simple to make this delicious gourmet product at home.

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.

Best ingredients for this recipe.

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

How to marinate olives.

Preparing warm marinated 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 delicious warm marinated olives.

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 marinated olives be sure not to heat gently so as not to burn the garlic or herbs.
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 marinated 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.

Variations to this recipe.

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

More Italian appetisers.

Italian appetisers are generally simple with few ingredients and mostly easy to make ahead. As well as my Marinated Eggplant 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
• Roasted vegetable bruschetta
• Prosciutto wrapped asparagus
• Marinated mozzarella 

I recommend that you also look at these yummy appetisers for your next party or feast.

• Pepperoni pastries
• Baked pita chips
• Greek tzatziki
• Smoked salmon pate
• Cheese gougères

These Warm Marinated 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!

Baci,

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Warm Marinated Olives

Warm marinated olives are a delicious addition to an antipasto plate. This is an easy recipe that can be made in advance.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Servings:4 servings as antipasto

Author: Marcellina

Ingredients

• 125 mls extra virgin olive oil125 mls extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and sliced2 cloves garlic peeled and sliced
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 fresh red chilli optional1 fresh red chilli optional
• Finely grated zest of 1 lemonFinely grated zest of 1 lemon
• 250 g mixed olives stone in250 g mixed olives stone in
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice2 tablespoons lemon juice

Metric - US Customary

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

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

Nutrition

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

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Thank you for sharing!