Olives Marinated with Herbs, Garlic and Preserved Lemon
These herby olives make a flavorful accompaniment to cocktails. The fresh flavors of lemon and green herbs perfectly complement the brininess of the olives. Truly a match made in heaven!
The holiday season is as exciting as it can be stressful. The calendar year is winding down at work. So, the office is inevitably super busy. Then, there are the numerous end of year activities at school.
And, finally, we attend (and give) endless rounds of holiday parties. As lovely as the festivities are, they can be exhausting. Hence, it’s easy to drop the ball on a thing or two.
That’s where easy, flavorful dishes like this one can be a lifesaver. The prep involved takes under 15 minutes and the bulk of the “work” happens in the fridge.
These gorgeous green olives are a real palate pleaser. Better yet, this is a starter that looks a lot more complicated than it is. So, if you’re a novice in the kitchen, but looking to impress, this is a perfect dish for you.
If you forgot to make a batch of zesty preserved lemons, don’t worry. You can always pick up preserved lemons at the store or order a jar online.
These olives would make a stunning hostess gift. They’re also easy to carry along to a potluck. Or, you can do what I do and pull them out of the fridge when friends drop by for happy hour. Either way, you’ll be glad to have this recipe in your holiday repertoire.
The Recipe
In simple recipes, like this one, the quality of the original ingredients is critical. So, please opt for the best quality brined green olives you can find. Standard supermarket olives just aren’t good enough. Here in South Africa there are plenty of outstanding olives on offer. Look no further than your local specialty shop or farmer’s market.
I’ve chosen to keep my seasoning pretty Mediterranean with a blend of fresh mint leaves and flat-leaf parsley. However, this recipe invites creativity. Please feel free to experiment with the flavors and create your own house specialty. Bon appétit!
Olives Marinated with Herbs, Garlic and Preserved Lemon
Ingredients
- 500 g green olives, cured in brine
- 1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 preserved lemon, zest only, thinly sliced into matchsticks
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons preserved lemon juice (or to taste)
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (or to taste)
Instructions
- Place olives in a medium bowl, and cover with cold water. Leave to soak 4 hours to remove excess salt. Drain olives well.
- Cut an "x" into the top of each olive to allow marinade to penetrate.
- In a medium bowl, stir together olives and remaining ingredients. Place in an airtight container and leave to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Olives can be prepared up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Serve at room temperature.
Notes
Use the very best brine-cured green olives available.
Don't overthink it. If you forget to prepare the olives in advance, let them marinate on the counter for a couple of hours before serving. They won't be quite as flavorful; but, they'll still be delicious.
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