Imagine the best olive mix you’ve ever bought. The marinated olives you can make at home are infinitely better. Combine a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your house (garlic, wine, bay leaf, oregano, etc.), bake them with your favorite mix of olives, and serve them with crusty bread for a simple tapas-style appetizer. The smell of these olives cooking will elicit moans from anyone in the vicinity of your kitchen.
Mediterranean Baked Olives
1 cup Kalamata olives
1 cup green olives, such as Picholine
1 bay leaf
3 cloves garlic, 1 sliced and 2 minced
1 tsp. oregano
1 Tbs. parsley
1 ½ Tbs. olive oil
½ cup dry white wine
1 ½ Tbs. olive oil
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Combine olives, bay leaf, sliced garlic and wine in baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake in single layer, covered, for 45 minutes or until olives are fragrant and swollen.
2. Meanwhile, combine minced garlic, parsley, oregano and olive oil in mortar and pestel until it resembles a thick paste. When olives are done baking, pierce each olive with a knife or fork, and add parsley mixture, along with olive oil and crushed red pepper, tossing to combine. Serve immediately or cool and store at room temperature for up to a week.
Serves 6-8
The Hip Hostess 