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Spicy Marinated Olives are the perfect garlicky addictive addition to your favorite meal, sandwich, or salad.
When you come to my home for dinner or a long Saturday lunch, there are certain expectations; there will be fresh bread, there will be a great dessert, and there will be a large bowl filled with Spicy Marinated Olives.
These olives have become semi-legendary. I have began preparing a double batch when company comes over, knowing these olives get consumed before anything else!
Spicy Marinated Olives are addictively delicious!
My Spicy Marinated Olives are garlicky with a bit of spice and a citrusy twist. They make the perfect addition to your charcuterie board, sandwich, salad, or dinner table. They are a wonderful accoutrement alongside beef or roast chicken. My Spicy Marinated Olives are 100% addictive; you’ll find yourself eating them straight from the jar every time you pass the fridge,. The infused olive oil is delicious for dipping fresh bread, drizzled over roasted potatoes, or blended with lemon juice into the most incredible salad dressing.
Some tips and tricks for success!
Pro tip! If you have eaten all the olives but have leftover infused oil (and are not planning on using it before it spoils), freeze the oil in an ice cube tray and defrost as needed!
This recipe is so easy! Really! On a slow day, preparing a jar takes about 10 minutes from start to finish. These olives are best made 2 days ahead of when you want to enjoy them, so it’s a great prep-ahead recipe. Of course, you can swap out different spices and adjust it to your own taste. but I adore this version with zaatar. I love the spices from New York Shuk! In this recipe, I use their Zaatar and Sumac.
All you need for this recipe is a garlic crusher and a clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid. The garlic crusher is essential for this recipe because it releases all the flavor and oils in the garlic cloves, allowing for total garlicky infusion.
Whether you stash these olives in the fridge for your own delicious treat or bring them to a potluck dinner or bbq, Spicy Marinated Olives will become your new go-to condiment.
Spicy Marinated Olives
Ingredients
- 2 large heads of garlic crushed/pressed
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons ground sumac
- 1½ teaspoons zaatar
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- zest of half a lemon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 14.5 oz olives with pimentos (the little red pepper inside) drained
- extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a large glass jar (roughly 4 cup volume), combine the crushed garlic, cumin, sumac, zaatar, smoked paprika, chili flakes, lemon zest, and kosher salt. Stir well to combine.
- Add the olives and pour the olive oil over them. The olive oil level should be just over the olives so none are poking up above the oil.
- Tightly close the the jar and give it a really good bunch of shakes so everything is mixed together. Leave the jar on the counter for about 45 minutes then place the jar in the fridge for 1-2 days. Optimal flavor begins after 1.5-2 days.
- Remove the jar from the fridge 1/2 hour before you plan on serving them so the oil has a chance to melt (it will become solid in the fridge).
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