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A rustic bowl of mixed marinated olives with orange peel, garlic, rosemary, and red pepper flakes on dark wood.

Marinated Olives With Orange Peel: 15-Minute Make-Ahead Appetizer

Brined olives turn into a warm, citrusy appetizer with orange peel, garlic, rosemary, and a little heat. It takes 15 minutes, and the extras keep in the fridge for up to a week, so it is an easy New Year's Eve nibble to make ahead.
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Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups mixed brined olives Castelvetrano, Kalamata, or green; drained (about 10 oz)
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil good-quality
  • 3 strips orange peel about 2 inches each, white pith scraped off
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice from the peeled orange
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped, from about 1 sprig
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 1/4 teaspoon for mild
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds lightly crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns whole

Method
 

  1. Drain the olives in a colander, rinse under cold water, and pat dry with paper towels.
  2. Warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, orange peel, rosemary, red pepper flakes, fennel seeds, and peppercorns. Cook, stirring, until fragrant and the garlic is pale gold at the edges, 2 to 3 minutes; do not let it brown.
  3. Add the olives and stir to coat. Cook until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
  4. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the orange juice and vinegar, then return it to low heat for 1 minute. Adding the juice off the heat keeps it from spitting in the hot oil.
  5. Serve warm with toothpicks, or cool completely and refrigerate in a covered jar with the oil and aromatics for at least 1 hour and up to 1 week for a deeper flavor.
  6. Let refrigerated olives stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving, since the oil solidifies when cold.