Paraben Free Lemon 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 mix of plump Castelvetrano, Kalamata, and Cerignola olives gets gently warmed in extra-virgin olive oil with sliced garlic, fresh rosemary, thyme, and a long strip of lemon zest — the result is deeply aromatic and rich without being heavy. A pinch of turmeric and ground ginger add a subtle warmth that makes the whole thing feel a little unexpected and a lot more interesting than anything you'd pull from a jar at the store. Packaged marinated olives often contain preservatives and synthetic additives that can be tricky to avoid, but this recipe keeps things completely clean — every ingredient is a whole food or a pure spice you can verify yourself. The infused oil that pools at the bottom of the bowl is practically a sauce on its own, perfect for dragging crusty bread through. Finishing with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens everything up and keeps the flavors lively. Serve them warm straight from the pan or let them cool to room temperature — either way, they're stunning on a cheese board or alongside a simple meal.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cups mixed olives, drained (such as castelvetrano, kalamata, and cerignola)
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 strip lemon zest (about 3 inches long), pith removed
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the olive oil, garlic, rosemary sprigs, thyme sprigs, lemon zest strip, turmeric, and ginger in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Warm until the garlic is softened and fragrant and small bubbles form steadily around the herbs, about 4–5 minutes. Watch closely — the garlic should turn pale golden at the edges but not brown.
- 2
Add the drained olives to the saucepan and stir to coat. Continue to heat, stirring occasionally, until the olives are warmed through and have absorbed the aromatics, about 3–4 minutes.
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