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Marinated Olives with Orange & Garlic

Marinated Olives with Orange & Garlic
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Marinated Olives with Orange & Garlic is a vibrant and flavorful appetizer that combines the rich brininess of olives with fresh citrus brightness and warming garlic. This easy-to-prepare snack is perfect for entertaining, offering a versatile, healthy, and customizable flavor profile that will quickly become a favorite.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 cups mixed green and black olives (such as Kalamata, Manzanilla, or Castelvetrano)
  • Zest of 1 fresh orange
  • Juice of 1 fresh orange (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Optional Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, thyme, or oregano (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Olives: Rinse your olives under cold water and drain well to remove any excess brine that can be overpowering. Remove pits if desired for easier eating or leave them in for presentation.
  2. Zest and Juice the Orange: Carefully grate the zest of the orange, avoiding the bitter white pith, and squeeze out fresh juice to add to the marinade. The zest adds aromatic oils while the juice provides fresh acidity.
  3. Slice the Garlic: Thinly slice the garlic cloves to gently release their flavor, avoiding overpowering the marinade that crushed garlic can cause.
  4. Combine Ingredients in a Bowl: Place olives in a mixing bowl. Add orange zest, orange juice, sliced garlic, olive oil, optional herbs, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat all olives evenly with the aromatic marinade.
  5. Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, to allow the flavors to mingle and penetrate deeply into the olives.

Notes

  • Use high-quality olives and fresh garlic for the best flavor.
  • Adjust orange juice quantity to balance acidity and avoid sourness.
  • Longer marination improves flavor depth—overnight preferred.
  • Mix different varieties of olives for textural and flavor complexity.
  • Store marinated olives in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator.
  • Do not freeze, as it alters texture and dilutes flavors.
  • Serve chilled or at room temperature; avoid reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: marinated olives, orange garlic olives, appetizer, Mediterranean snack, healthy snack, easy party appetizer, vegan olives

Find it online: https://recipesemilly.com/marinated-olives-with-orange-garlic/