MSG Free Citrus & Herb Marinated Olives
Warm, fragrant, and impossibly easy to pull together, these marinated olives are the kind of appetizer that makes a simple gathering feel genuinely special. Sliced garlic is gently coaxed in olive oil alongside fresh rosemary and thyme until golden and soft, building a deeply aromatic base before the olives even hit the pan. A double hit of citrus zest — orange and lemon — plus a splash of fresh orange juice keeps everything bright and lively, while ground turmeric and ginger add just enough warmth to make you stop and wonder what exactly is in these. Store-bought flavored olives often rely on additives and flavor enhancers to get that depth, but here every bit of complexity comes straight from real, whole ingredients you can see and smell. The 30-minute rest at room temperature is worth every second — the infused oil soaks into the olives and the flavors knit together beautifully. Serve them with crusty bread to soak up that golden, herb-scented oil, and don't be surprised when they disappear before anything else on the table does.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cups mixed olives, pitted or unpitted
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp orange zest (from about ½ orange)
- 1 tsp lemon zest (from about ½ lemon)
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
Instructions
- 1
Combine the olive oil, garlic, rosemary sprigs, and thyme sprigs in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until the garlic is softened and just beginning to turn golden at the edges, about 4–5 minutes — watch closely, as the garlic can brown quickly.
- 2
Add the olives, orange zest, lemon zest, turmeric, ginger, and salt to the pan. Stir to coat the olives in the oil and spices, then cook until the olives are warmed through and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes.
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