High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Herb-Marinated Olives
Briny, fragrant, and deeply savory, these herb-marinated olives are the kind of effortless appetizer that looks like you spent way more time than you actually did. A mix of Castelvetrano, Kalamata, and Cerignola olives gets gently warmed in extra-virgin olive oil with sliced garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, red pepper flakes, and a bright hit of lemon zest — the result is a glossy, aromatic bowl of something truly special. The technique is simple: you're just coaxing the herbs and garlic into the oil over low heat until everything smells incredible, then letting the olives soak it all up as the mixture cools. That resting period is where the magic happens, so don't rush it. Store-bought marinated olives are a minefield of added sweeteners and mystery preservatives, but this version uses nothing but whole, recognizable ingredients — no corn syrup, no fillers, just real food. Serve them at room temperature straight from the jar, or give them a quick rewarm on the stovetop before guests arrive. They're equally at home on a cheese board, alongside crusty bread, or honestly just eaten straight with a toothpick while you pretend to be patient.
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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
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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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