Mediterranean Diet Friendly Lemon Herb Marinated Olives
Olives are already a cornerstone of Mediterranean eating, but warming them in fragrant olive oil with garlic, fresh thyme, and rosemary takes them somewhere truly special. A hit of lemon zest and juice brightens everything up, while ground turmeric and ginger add a subtle warmth that makes the flavor profile feel a little unexpected and completely addictive. The technique is simple — just a few minutes on the stovetop to bloom the aromatics — but the result tastes like something you'd find at a really good mezze spread. Letting the olives rest in the infused oil is where the magic happens, as the flavors meld and deepen over time. They're endlessly versatile: set them out as a snack, tuck them alongside crusty bread and cheese, or pile them onto a grain bowl. The whole thing comes together with pantry-friendly staples and a handful of fresh herbs, which is exactly the kind of effortless, ingredient-forward cooking this way of eating is built around.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 2 cups mixed olives, pitted or unpitted
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 1 tsp zest and 2 tbsp juice)
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the olive oil, garlic, thyme sprigs, rosemary sprigs, turmeric, ginger, and salt in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Warm until the garlic is fragrant and just beginning to turn golden at the edges, about 3–4 minutes. Watch closely, as the garlic can brown quickly.
- 2
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice.
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