Soy Free Citrus & Herb Marinated Olives
Warm, fragrant, and impossibly easy to pull together, these marinated olives are the kind of appetizer that makes guests think you spent far more effort than you actually did. Briny mixed olives get gently coaxed in a bath of extra-virgin olive oil with sliced garlic, fresh rosemary, and thyme until everything turns golden and aromatic. Orange and lemon zest bring a bright citrus lift, while ground turmeric and ginger add just enough warmth to make the flavor profile feel genuinely interesting. A splash of fresh orange juice stirred in at the end ties it all together with a subtle sweetness that balances the salt beautifully. Because every ingredient here is a whole, recognizable food — no marinades from a jar, no packaged seasoning blends — you never have to second-guess what's actually in the bowl. That 30-minute rest at room temperature is the secret step: the infused oil soaks deeper into each olive, turning a simple snack into something that tastes like it came from a good Mediterranean restaurant. Set them out with crusty bread or alongside a cheese board and watch them disappear.
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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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