Sesame Free Herb-Marinated Olives
Warm, fragrant, and deeply savory, these herb-marinated olives are the kind of appetizer that disappears before you even sit down. A mix of Castelvetrano, Kalamata, and Cerignola olives brings a range of buttery, briny, and meaty textures to the bowl, while a quick infusion of rosemary, thyme, oregano, garlic, and lemon zest transforms good olives into something genuinely special. The technique is simple — gently warming everything together in olive oil coaxes the aromatics into the fat and lets the flavors bloom in a way that cold marinating just can't match. A pinch of red pepper flakes adds just enough heat to keep things interesting without overwhelming the herby brightness. Store-bought marinated olives often sneak in unexpected ingredients, so making your own means you know exactly what's in the jar — nothing but clean, whole ingredients here. These are equally at home on a charcuterie board, alongside crusty bread, or set out as a cocktail hour snack, and they only get better as they sit.
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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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