How to Make Delicious Marinated olives
 
Prep time
Cook time
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These delicious and well-marinated olives satisfy all our cravings for something salty and crunchy!
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Recipe type: Appetizer, pre-dinner snack
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Serves: 2 cups
Ingredients
  • 2 cups mixed olives
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ small lemon, thinly sliced (or, just the peel cut into thin strips)
  • 1 tsp. coriander seeds, crushed
  • ½ tsp. dried Greek oregano
  • 1 small dried red chili (or, a pinch of red pepper flakes)
  • 2 small bay leaves
Instructions
  1. First, rid the olives of their brine by putting them in a strainer set inside a bowl filled with room temperature water. Let the olives sit for a minute or so and then rinse and drain them. If the olives still taste too briny, repeat the process one more time. Drain well.
  2. In a small saucepan combine the olive oil, the crushed coriander seeds, the oregano, the dried chili (or red pepper flakes), and the bay leaves. Simmer over a gentle heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture becomes fragrant.
  3. Remove from the heat and let it steep for 30 minutes.
  4. Place the olives is a small mixing bowl and pour the cooled mixture over them. Stir well to combine. Let the olives marinate at room temperature for at least an hour before storing them in an airtight container. (Hint: the longer they sit in the marinade the better they will taste).
  5. Serve the marinated olives in a shallow bowl with a small slotted spoon or toothpicks. After a day or two, you can store them in their air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. The oil will solidify in the refrigerator so you should bring the olives to room temperature before serving them.
Notes
When buying olives, choose those packed in brine instead of those in flavored oils as you want to flavor them yourselves using good ingredients.

Pitted olives are easier to eat, but the ones with the pit still inside have an even better flavor. You can use either one.
Recipe by Marilena's Kitchen at https://marilenaskitchen.com/how-to-make-delicious-marinated-olives/