Olives marinated in orange and thyme infused olive oil
My friends have been known to say that I like to complicate things. I once complained to my husband that there was too much sun coming into the bedroom window which was waking me up earlier than I wanted. I thought long and hard about how to fix this and finally I decided that I was going to buy large sheets of black paper and sticky tape and cover the windows to block out the morning sun. So off I went to buy the supplies and was excited to show my husband my handiwork.
“What are you doing??” My husband asked when he entered the room.
I explained that I was creating a black screen to block out the sun.
“Huh? Why didn’t you just buy a sleeping eye mask?” He asked.
Hmmmm….
My desire to complicate extends to the kitchen as well. For example, if we’re having lasagna, I’ll insist on making my own pasta sheets, my own tomato sauce and if I had a meat grinder, hey, I’d even go as far grinding my own meat!
But somethings are meant to be beautiful in their simplicity and I try to respect that as well.
Take these olives, marinated in orange and thyme infused olive oil. I picked up this recipe from the Tapas book of Jose Andres. It’s so simple to make – that it almost didn’t post it – but I’m sure some of you would love a delicious nibble that takes less than five minutes to put together… wouldn’t you? They remind me so much of my holidays in Spain when my husband and I would go sit by some tapas bar before dinner and order a bowl of olives and a glass of red wine to pass the time.
So the recipe calls for you to marinate the olives in what Jose Andres calls the Aliño, which is the mix of spices and flavourings that gives the olives it’s distinct taste. He recommends you marinate the olives for a week at room temperature but if you can’t wait that long, a minimum of twelve hours should do the trick.
Olives marinated in orange and thyme infused olive oil
Olives Marinated in Orange and Thyme-infused Olive Oil
recipe from Jose Andres, Tapas – A Taste of Spain in America
- 1 orange
- 1 lemon
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced finely
- 60 ml (1/4 cup) olive oil
- 30 ml (2 tablespoons) sherry vinegar
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 500 grams olives (your own favourite variety or mixture)
- Zest the orange and the lemon and place in a bowl along with the juice of the orange.
- Next, add the garlic, olive oil, sherry vinegar, salt and the olives to the juice and zest and give it a good stir.
- Allow the mixture to marinate at least 12 hours before serving, and (if you can wait that long) to make sure that the flavours are well blended, leave to marinate a week at room temperature before serving.
Marinated Olives
Trissalicious 
Simple is often the best. Love olives and love the lift zest gives anything, thanks for sharing.
I tend to complicate myself when driving, never taking the shortcuts! Anyway nice work on home cured olives, we too often go out and buy them when it seems to be heaps cheaper to make them at home!
Olives are just fab aren’t they? I love the marinade used here Trissa…so simple and sweet!
LOL at the black paper – it shows you have enthusiasm and determination to solve a problem! I adore olives, and this sound slike a lovely variation.
I love simple recipes, simple yet delicious. I love the look of these and the mix of olives. My favourites are Sicilian green olives. I will have to try this.
It’s definitely nice to get a break from the complicated recipes, though the best ones are really worth the effort. Thanks for posting this after all ;).
Hello and HNY !!!
Another coincidence again (I was thinking of the spaghetti & clams dish when you posted one too). This time it’s olives. I bought a bottle of kalamatta olives and tipped the brine and marinated them in balsamic vinegar and herbs mix. I can’t seem to get it right…too sour not much oomph from the herbs or flavourings. All I want to achieve is something close to the Coles’ deli. But will do try yours definitely once i finish my current jar.
glad you posted the recipe, no recipe can be too simple for me 😉 love the colours!
My friends say the same thing about me 🙂
I love olives, but I never thought of making them at home. Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but does this require already cured olives from the store, or would you buy them fresh?
Don’t ya just hate that when you get yourself all organised to go fix a problem & someone says ‘so why don’t you just……?’
So, I guess I seriously relate to your problem 🙂 Love thyme & orange together as flavours, so this is a winner for me, thanks for sharing Trissa 🙂
Wow – they look good! I’m just starting to enjoy olives..it’s been a long road!
I love olives I usually inhale them when placed infront of me as entrees in a restaurant! But yes, I don’t think I can wait 1 week of marinating… I’d grab it straight to my mouth !
i know what you mean about overcomplicating things. and yes, getting my own mincer is on my wishlist. just think of all the sausages i could make!
the olives recipe looks wonderful. i wonder do i just get the olives in brine? or some other kind?
@Mel – yes, the olives that you get are the ones in brine – good luck!
Simple recipe but sounds so delicious, thank you for deciding to share.
Lovely Trissa, simple but delicious and, yes, I like learning about 5 minutes nibbles…. you know, sometimes, a simple recipe can save a situation and make great impression on someone; nice D.O.F in the images
I am glad you posted this recipe. Sometimes simplicity is best.
Oh gosh, I’m in love with those pieces of cutlery! Are they specifically for olives? What fun! Might have to email this post to my mum, who has been using the same marinated olive recipe for years. It’s nice, of course, but sometimes you want something different…
SB and I fell in love with Spanish olives when we visited our Spanish daughter in Barcelona … to this day, she sends us a box of olives that her uncle harvests and puts up in jars … mmm, heaven! These olives of yours look so fresh and meaty! What kind are the bright green olives??
@Susan – they are sicilian olives – my new favourite. They taste almost buttery.. you must try them if you can!
Oh yes, I always want simple and quick recipes. They are the best above all if you have unexpected guests or a craving husband 🙂
This combination sounds beautiful, I love the simplicity of it. It would be great for a picnic. Sometimes it’s good to get complicated though, you invent delicious, unique creations when you do.
I’m so glad you did post it, Trissa! Nothing is better for an appetizer than a bowl of olives and a bowl of nuts. I really like the citrus in this. Will be making it again and again!
Oh I love a bowl of olives before dinner. Have always wanted to make my own olives from scratch but using this cheat’s method of flavouring olives sounds even better. They make such a great gift too.
Could you see yourself making this dish from scratch i.e. curing your own olives?
@Simon – I thought about it! 🙂
This is bookmarked for me. I love simple delicious nibbles. This would go so well with my rosemary walnuts. Love how you photographed these. You let them shine.
can I do this with Red wine vinegar?
@Peachy – most definitely!
What an interesting marinade. I will have to try and be patient and wait the full week when I make this, I want to see how the flavors develop over the course of the week.
Oh, this sounds sooooo good. What a wonderful healthy snack!
*kisses* HH
hmmm… my mister say the same thing as well… but then I love to do what I do and I’m sure you do too!
such a nice little idea. will steal for next party 🙂
These olives look sensational. I am really bad when it comes to olives. I can polish off a small tub from the deli in one sitting.
Your photos are so beautifully clear – it’s like you can reach out and grab one of those shiny olives. I wish…
hehe…I think your husband was right….and did you get one eye mask?
The marinated fresh olives look fantastic! I could smell the sunshine. :-))