My favorite recipe for the best warm marinated olives. These are great to serve as an appetizer, and they go perfectly with many dishes. They’re simple to make and perfect for parties.
Olives are already tasty on their own, but if you’ve had warm marinated olives you know how the added ingredients create one of the best appetizers ever! It’s amazing how something so simple can so delicious and flavorful.
One of my favorite pizza restaurants serves warm marinated olives and you better believe I order one dish just for myself. The sauce is also delicious and perfect for dipping bread or even to toss over a pasta.
I wanted to create an easy recipe with similar flavors of my favorite marinate olives. This is very simple, only requires a skillet and a strainer. You can add your own twist if you’d like as well.
If you’re in a pinch, these olives only take about 10 minutes to make, or they can marinate for up to 24 hours. You can serve them as an appetizer, with a cheese board, or as a dish with burrata and marinated tomatoes!
They would be amazing with our Greek mezze platter too and our lavender and rosemary Marcona almonds.
Marinated Olives Ingredients
- Green Pitted Olives: Mild and buttery, these olives form the base of the dish.
- Kalamata Olives: Rich, tangy, and briny for added depth.
- Lemon Zest: Bright and citrusy, it enhances the freshness.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a tangy kick and balances the flavors.
- Garlic, Minced: Infuses the olives with a bold, savory aroma.
- Fresh Thyme: Earthy and herbaceous for a subtle, fragrant touch.
- Calabrian Peppers + Oil: Spicy and smoky for a hint of heat and complexity.
- Olive Oil: Smooth and silky, it ties all the ingredients together.
- Salt + Pepper: Enhances the flavors and brings everything to life.
I purchased the green olives, Kalamata olives and Calabrian peppers at Whole Foods. Calabrian peppers are grown and harvest in Calabria Italy.
They have a delicious pepper flavor but are not too spicy. The pepper and oil are both used in this recipe.
Another tip when buying ingredients, quality matters. If you buy better quality olives and peppers you will have a better taste.
How to Make Marinated Warm Olives
Prepare the Olives: Strain the green and Kalamata olives, then combine them with all the other ingredients in a medium bowl. Allow the mixture to marinate for at least 5 minutes or up to 24 hours, depending on your schedule.
Heat the Olives: Warm olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the marinated olive mixture to the skillet.
Simmer and Warm: Bring the ingredients to a gentle sizzle, then reduce the heat and let the olives simmer for about 10 minutes until they are thoroughly warmed and infused with flavor.
Serve: Transfer the warm olives and all the flavorful juices from the skillet into a shallow dish. Serve immediately while they’re warm.
Make-Ahead Option: For a convenient prep option, combine all the ingredients and drained olives in a bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. When ready to serve, simply warm them in a skillet.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust the Spice Level: If you prefer a milder flavor, simply reduce the amount of Calabrian peppers and their oil. You can always add more for extra heat later.
- Season to Taste: Be sure to taste-test as you go! Adjust the salt or extra lemon juice for a balanced citrusy tang.
- Make Ahead for Convenience: These olives are perfect for prepping in advance. Marinate them ahead of time, then warm them just before serving for a quick and flavorful appetizer.
How to Store Marinated Warm Olives
Cool Completely: Let the olives cool to room temperature.
Use an Airtight Container: Store the olives with their juices in a sealed container.
Refrigerate: Keep them in the fridge for up to 1 week. Once the olives are drained from their brine and marinated with other ingredients, it’s best to marinate them in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Warm them gently in a skillet before serving.
How long do marinated olives last?
First, you most likely won’t need to worry about this as I guarantee all of the marinated olives will be eaten the same day! They are that good. However, you can store them in the refrigerator for a few days after warmed.
How do you eat marinated olives?
It’s best to scoop a few olives onto a plate and eat them with a small fork.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
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Warm Marinated Olives
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Green olives, pitted
- 8 ounces Kalamata olives, pitted
- 1 tbsp Lemon zest
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice, fresh
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Thyme, fresh, minced
- 3 sprigs Thyme , fresh
- 5 Calabrian peppers, sliced
- 2 tsp Calabrian pepper oil , from the jar
- 1/3 cup Olive oil
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Slice the peppers and mince the garlic.
- Strain both olives and add all of the ingredients into a medium bowl and stir.
- Let the olives marinate with the other ingredients for 5 minutes to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet on medium.
- Add the olives to the skillet and bring all of the ingredients to a simmer and then let the olives simmer for 10 minutes until warm.
- Pour all of the ingredients, including the juices in the pan into a shallow dish.
- Serve these olives warm. You can let them simmer until ready to serve.
Is the 1/3 cup olive oil for marinating or simmering?
For simmering 😉
thank you! have had what I thought was every version of olives but always cold, never had warmed marinated olives, so much appreciated
I LOVE all types of olives and I enjoy spice I will definitely be making this dish Looks so delicious Yum