This recipe for marinated olives makes the perfect addition to any party spread or charcuterie board. They are easy to make and you'll save money over the fancy ones you can buy at the olive bar in the grocery store.
Why Make Your Own Marinated Olives?
I love going to a gourmet or specialty grocery store and checking out the olive bar. There are so many types to choose from. The thing I don't care for is the price. They can run anywhere from $6.99 to $10.99 per pound.
So I decided to buy an inexpensive jar of Spanish olives. Normally, you get get a big jar or can of olives for just a few dollars. I like the big green ones and you can get them with or without the pits still in them. I turn to my spice cabinet and the magic begins.
These olives are perfect to make my Charcuterie Skewers as a holiday or party appetizer. Make sure to use pitted olives for this. Everyone loves olives with meat and cheese on a stick!
I also add these olives to my Vegan Charcuterie Board. And you don't have to be a vegan to love this snack board.
How to Make Marinated Olives
Olive oil gets heated up in a pan and flavored with crushed garlic, rosemary, thyme and orange peel. I marinated the olives in the flavored oil and some Sriracha sauce gave the olives a little kick.
You don't have to use the same spices I did. Take a look in your spice cabinet and be creative! You can easily turn ordinary olives into something special.
I loved warming the spices in the olive oil. It made the house smell delicious. The olives then soaked in the oil for a day or so and are ready to eat. They should sit for a day but that doesn't always happen. My husband and I kept tasting them before they were ready. We were lucky there was some left after 24 hours.
This is perfect to serve as an appetizer which can be made ahead of time. Lately, there hasn't been much time to cook dinner in my house. A nice piece of crusty bread, some cheese and these olives have been my dinner on more than one occasion. The flavored oil is also awesome to dip bread in.
Homemade Marinated Olives FAQ
Homemade Marinated Olives FAQWhat kind of olives should I buy?
- Spanish olives are what I use for my marinated olives. You can use pitted olives if you prefer.
- Other varieties of olives would also work for this recipe. Kalamata, black, or plain green would be just as delicious!
How long will these marinated olives keep for?
- As long as you store your olives in an airtight container, they'll last for weeks! That never happens in my house though.
Spice Variations/ Substitutions
While you can follow this recipe exactly the way it's written, feel free to mix and match spices. Use your favorite and try variations. Here are some suggestions:
- dried basil
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- chili powder
- lemon peel
- hot pepper sauce
- Herbs de Provence
- dried parsley
More Appetizer Recipes
- Crispy Oven Fried Zucchini Chips
- Super Easy Guacamole
- Marinated Mushroom Salad
- Ricotta Tomato Tart
- Butternut Hummus from Love and Lemons
- Whipped Feta with Blistered Tomatoes via Call Me PMC
If you like this recipe for marinated olives, please give it a 5 star rating below.
RECIPE
Marinated Olives
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoon crushed garlic
- 2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 inch piece of fresh orange zest cut into small strips
- a dash of dried red pepper
- a splash of balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups green olives with pits brine drained
Instructions
- Heat oil on low heat and add garlic. Cook for a few minutes then add rosemary, thyme, and orange zest. Stir and continue to heat for another few minutes. Add the Sriracha and vinegar mixing well. Pour the mixture over the olives and mix well. Marinate for a day or so. Keep the olives stored in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
First Published May 2012; Updated October 2020
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Gail Snyder: Good Deal Meals
I pinned this, great idea, can't wait to try.
Cathy
Yes! I love olives! The thing is, I'm looking for ways to cut back a little. You don't know just how appealing your simple meal of bread, cheese, and olives is...especially with your kicked up olives. I can't wait to try this! 🙂
ramona
good idea, I can never make up my mind at thos olive bars
Kate
Our grocery store has a pretty nice, affordable olive bar.
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
I'm not huge on olives, but my family would love if I prepared them this way for them! Thanks for sharing!
Kathy
These look so delicious! I love really good olives!
The Food Hunter
I love the added orange zest
Mary
This is really a great idea. The olives will spruce up any meal and I know I would love them. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Karen Harris
I'm with you, the olive bars are too darned expensive. I love this idea and I'm sure they are better than the olive bars too. I can't wait to try this. I'm pinning.
Biz
What a great idea! My husband is a sucker for that olive bar at our grocery store - but like you said a small container can be like $10 bucks!
Pam
Oh man. I wish I had a bowl full of these olives right now. They look fantastic!
Aggie
My parents just gave me a huge amount of green olives, I'm going to do this! I love them kicked up like this. Great recipe Lisa (they are SO overpriced when bought already kicked up!).
Mary Withrow
Adding these to my list, we love olives here as well!
Elizabeth Cullinane
Hi, how long do these stay for in the fridge?
lisa
They only have to marinate overnight before they are ready to eat. They keep for several weeks as long as you keep them in an air tight container. Enjoy!