She Loves Biscotti

Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Maria
  • My Store
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

Home » Appetizers » Marinated Olives: With Oregano and Oranges

Marinated Olives: With Oregano and Oranges

May 19, 2018 , Updated June 14, 2019 Maria 18 Comments

Jump to Recipe  ↓ Print Recipe  ❒
Black and green olives with orange zest and oregano.

This recipe for these Easy Oregano Orange Marinated Olives is sure to be a hit at your next cocktail party. Olive oil is gently heated and lightly scented with oregano and orange zest before being added to the olives. You will create an easy to make party finger food to serve your guests. These marinated olives also make the perfect addition to any cheese platter.

An overhead shot of marinated olives with orange zest and oregano.
Marinated Olives

Do you like to entertain?

I love it, especially outdoor entertaining in the summer, and in particular, on long week-ends.

If you are like me, you love recipes that can be made ahead of time because entertaining friends and family should be fun -both for the guests and the hosts.

Whether planning for a cocktail party or hosting a wine and cheese get together, these Marinated Olives are a must. The best part of this recipe is that it doesn’t involve hours of preparation. With an investment of only fifteen minutes and just a few key ingredients, these marinated olives come together in no time all.

I can’t wait to share this cold finger food recipe with all of you… come and take a look!

Marinated olives with a glass of wine in the background, surrounded by a few fresh oregano leaves.

HOW TO MAKE MARINATED OLIVES:

The first thing we are going to do is remove the zest from the orange. If possible, try to get long strips without the pith.

What exactly is the pith?

As you probably know, the pith is the white part situated just beneath the outer peel of any citrus fruit. Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, mandarins and limes all have this spongy white pith.

Although slightly bitter tasting (especially the grapefruit), the pith is actually very healthy. In fact, it is a source of fiber, Vitamin C and flavonoids.

Despite the fact that we need to remove the pith for our marinated olives recipe, once removed, you can freeze the pith and the next time you are making that smoothie, just throw the pith in! A little nutrition boost for the win 😉

How to remove the zest from an orange:

A potato peeler or a sharp paring knife both work really well in removing the orange zest.

If using a potato peeler, simply hold the orange in one hand, the potato peeler in the other. Then, simply start peeling your orange.

If using a paring knife, cut off both ends of the orange. Then, stand the orange upright on your cutting board. With a very sharp knife, start cutting away the peel from the pith. As you work your way around the orange, you will get strips of orange peels.

The infusion of the olive oil with orange zest in a small pot.

Once you have peeled the orange, add them, along with a few pinches of red pepper flakes, to about half a cup of extra virgin olive oil and heat together in a small saucepan, on low heat for about three minutes.

Then, simply remove the pot from the heat, cover and allow about ten minutes or so for the infusion to take place. We are now ready to add a variety of olives (black or green) and minced fresh oregano to our orange scented oil.

A close up shot of green and black marinated olives with oregano and slivers of orange zest.

You have just transformed some briny olives into a citrus sensation!

These marinated olives can be used immediately, or they can be refrigerated for up to five days. If you do refrigerate them, you can heat them up gently for a minute or so or leave at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

Italian Appetizers we love:

Marinated Mozzarella Balls

Seafood Salad

Eggplant Caponata

 

A close up shot of marinated olives in a brown terra cotta serving dish

Origins of the Recipe for Marinated Olives:

I love bookstores. And as you can probably imagine, I especially love cookbooks. Call me old fashioned but there is something special about flipping the pages of a cookbook and getting a feel for the recipes, especially when there is beautiful food photography.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the convenience of all the technology that surrounds us today. Think of a recipe, any recipe, and can you have access to it in just a few milliseconds.

And thanks to Google Home, it will soon all be voice activated…

Still… I love my cookbooks.

A round serving dish filled with black and green olives which have been marinated with olive oil and orange zest.

This Marinated Olives recipe is from a cookbook entitled “Simple Italian Snacks”. It is one of my go to cookbooks when I am looking for original bite-sized, tapas-style outdoor entertaining ideas. The only minor change I made to this perfect recipe was to add a sprinkle of fleur de sel.

If you are looking for some other cold party appetizers, take a look at this recipe for these Goat Cheese Bites. It is a little more time consuming, but oh so very tasty.

Another staple for my summer parties is this classic Tomato Bruschetta. In this post, I have included a few tips in order for you to transform a good tasting bruschetta into a taste sensation! Don’t miss it!

Marinated olives and marinated mushrooms are shown in two different bowls.

And be sure to check out the next post (coming soon) on Marinated Mushrooms… another party appetizer that is a must for that cheese platter of yours! Until then…

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this Marinated Olives recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

A close up shot of marinated olives in a brown terra cotta serving dish

Marinated Olives

This recipe for these Easy Oregano Orange Marinated Olives is sure to be a hit at your next cocktail party. Olive oil is gently heated & lightly scented with oregano & orange zest before being added to the olives. These marinated olives also make the perfect addition to any cheese platter. The perfect party food!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 89kcal
Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

  • 1 orange
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1-2 pinches red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups olives assorted
  • 1 tablespoon oregano fresh
  • pinch fleur de sel optional
  • oregano leaves for garnishing optional
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • With a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, remove peel from orange.
  • Over low heat, combine the orange peel, olive oil and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan.
  • Heat for about 3 minutes. The oil should be warm to the touch. DO NOT OVERHEAT.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat, cover and allow the orange peels to marinate for about 10 minutes.
  • Add the assorted olives and the oregano and combine gently with the infused olive oil.
  • Garnish with oregano leaves (if using) and a pinch of fleur de sel (if using) and serve.
Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

1 serving = 1/4 cup
Any brine-cured, canned or jarred olives can be used for this recipe. 
These marinated olives can be used immediately, or they can be refrigerated for up to five days. If you do refrigerate them, you can heat them up gently for a minute or so or leave at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 89kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 51mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 8.7mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @shelovesbiscotti or tag #shelovesbiscotti!

 

 

Appetizers

About Maria

Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

Comments

  1. Vanessa says

    June 23, 2018 at 11:01

    Are the olives used jared?

    Reply
    • Maria says

      June 23, 2018 at 11:15

      Yes, you can use any brine-cured,canned or jarred olives. Great question! I will specify in the recipe card. Thanks for stopping by Vanessa 🙂

      Reply
  2. Paula Barbarito-Levitt says

    May 25, 2018 at 12:22

    Absolutely perfect at sunset with a nice glass of wine.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      June 1, 2018 at 17:45

      That, my friend sounds like an excellent plan! Enjoy your week-end ♥

      Reply
  3. Alida @My Little Italian Kitchen says

    May 25, 2018 at 10:39

    I have never marinated my own olives. Very interesting and they look delicious. I love your photos Maria!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      June 1, 2018 at 17:46

      Thanks so much Alida… they are really very addictive. Thanks so much for stopping by ♥

      Reply
  4. Nathalie says

    May 23, 2018 at 20:46

    5 stars
    Very nice pictures. And as I love olives I ‘ll certainly try your recipe. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      May 24, 2018 at 07:56

      Thanks so much Nathalie! Hope you like them 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by ♥

      Reply
  5. Denise from Urb'n'Spice says

    May 23, 2018 at 11:06

    5 stars
    Having just returned from Spain, I am intrigued with your Easy Oregano Orange Marinated Olives, Maria! We enjoyed so many lovely olives wherever we travelled throughout our journey. I am excited to try your recipe – thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      May 23, 2018 at 14:10

      Hope you had a wonderful vacation Denise! Over the years,these marinated olives have become a permanent addition to our cheese board. Hope you get a chance to try them. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  6. Terri @foodmeanderings says

    May 23, 2018 at 09:03

    5 stars
    What a great easy recipe! I love olives and oranges, so I’m sure I would really enjoy this. I’m not so hot at entertaining, but I’d be happy to bring them along to someone else’s house! 🙂

    Reply
    • Maria says

      May 23, 2018 at 14:12

      That sounds like a wonderful idea! Hope you get a chance to give them a try Terri. Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  7. Marcellina says

    May 22, 2018 at 03:25

    5 stars
    Oooh, I love marinated olives! Just don’t make them often enough…then again, I’d just sit down and eat them all. BTW Your photos are beautiful!

    Reply
    • Maria says

      May 22, 2018 at 05:18

      Thanks so much Marcellina 🙂 That’s exactly what was happening to me as I was taking the pictures… I kept saying just one more and before I knew it, I had eaten almost half of my olives! Appreciate you stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  8. Ciao Chow Linda says

    May 21, 2018 at 20:48

    I have used rosemary with olives, but never thought to add orange. What a bright idea.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      May 22, 2018 at 06:18

      Can’t take the credit for this taste sensation but it has become one of my go-to marinated olives recipe ever since I tried it. I have also tried with rosemary and they are definitely just as delicious. Thanks for stopping by Linda 🙂

      Reply
  9. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    May 20, 2018 at 15:03

    Nice photos! Marinated olives are such an easy little appetizer to put out when serving cocktails.

    Reply
    • Maria says

      May 20, 2018 at 16:12

      Thanks Karen:) They really are… I couldn’t stop eating them as I was taking the pictures. Appreciate your comment. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Maria

Maria headshot

Hello and Welcome to She Loves Biscotti!
I'm Maria: dietitian and full time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth, to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Read More…

Subscribe and Follow

Popular Posts

Banner of sites featuring She Loves Biscotti including Buzzfeed, Huffpost, etc.

Looking for something …

Links on this blog are affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a commission if you use those links. (There’s no extra charge to you).

PRIVACY POLICY | DISCLOSURE

Copyright © 2021

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Read moreOkNo