Nitrate & Nitrite Free Garlic-Herb Marinated Olives
Briny, fragrant, and impossibly easy to pull together, these marinated olives are the kind of appetizer that disappears before you even sit down. A quick warm bath in extra-virgin olive oil with sliced garlic, fresh rosemary, thyme, lemon zest, and a whisper of turmeric and ginger transforms a simple bowl of mixed olives into something genuinely special. Because the whole recipe is built from whole, fresh ingredients — nothing cured with preservatives, no packaged seasoning blends — you get bold, clean flavor without any of the additives that sneak into so many store-bought marinated options. The gentle heat on the stovetop coaxes the garlic to golden and blooms every herb and spice into the oil, so by the time you pour it all into a bowl, the infusion is already doing its thing. That 30-minute rest at room temperature is where the magic really happens, letting the olives soak up every layer of flavor before they hit the table. Serve them warm alongside crusty bread or as part of a spread, and watch them become the first thing to go.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cups mixed olives, pitted or unpitted (such as castelvetrano, kalamata, and cerignola)
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 strips lemon zest (each about 3 inches long), removed with a vegetable peeler
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 sprigs fresh oregano (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Drain the olives and pat them dry with a paper towel. Set aside.
- 2
Combine the olive oil, garlic, rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, lemon zest strips, turmeric, ginger, and oregano (if using) in a small saucepan. Set over medium-low heat and warm until the garlic is fragrant and just beginning to turn golden at the edges, about 4–5 minutes. Watch closely — the garlic can brown quickly and turn bitter.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!