Almond Free Herb-Marinated Olives
Briny, fragrant, and deeply savory, these marinated olives are the kind of appetizer that disappears from the table before anyone even sits down. A mix of Castelvetrano, Kalamata, and Cerignola olives gets warmed low and slow in extra-virgin olive oil with garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, and a bright hit of lemon zest — the result is something that tastes like it came from a specialty deli counter, not your own stovetop. The gentle heat coaxes the garlic to golden perfection and lets every herb bloom into the oil, so by the time the olives rest and soak everything up, the flavors are rich and fully melded. Store-bought marinated olives can be a gamble when you're avoiding tree nuts, since shared facilities and mystery spice blends are common — making your own means you know exactly what went in. This recipe keeps things beautifully simple: fresh herbs, whole spices, good oil, and nothing you didn't put there yourself. They're equally at home on a charcuterie board, alongside crusty bread, or just eaten straight from the jar with a toothpick and zero regrets. Make a batch ahead and let them sit — they genuinely get better as the oil continues to infuse.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cups mixed olives (such as castelvetrano, kalamata, and cerignola), drained
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 tsp fresh oregano leaves
- 1 tsp lemon zest (from about ½ lemon)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- 1
Combine the olive oil, garlic, rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, oregano, red pepper flakes, and black pepper in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. 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 at this stage.
- 2
Add the drained olives and lemon zest to the saucepan. Stir to coat and continue warming over medium-low heat until the olives are heated through and the oil is bubbling gently around them, about 3–4 minutes.
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