Tree Nut Free Lemon Garlic Herb Marinated Olives
Briny, fragrant, and impossibly easy to pull together, these marinated olives are the kind of appetizer that makes guests think you spent far more effort than you actually did. A mix of plump varieties like Castelvetrano, Kalamata, and Cerignola gives you a range of textures and flavors that no single-olive jar can match. The real magic happens when garlic, rosemary, thyme, lemon zest, turmeric, and ginger are gently warmed in olive oil until everything turns soft, golden, and deeply aromatic — then the olives go right in to soak it all up. Packaged marinated olives often contain unexpected additives or are processed alongside tree nuts, so making your own from scratch means you know exactly what's in the bowl. The whole process takes under fifteen minutes on the stovetop, and the result is a warm, glossy dish that works beautifully as a cocktail hour snack, a cheese board companion, or a simple weeknight treat. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end keeps everything bright and balanced against all that savory richness.
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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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