These warm olives are such an easy, delicious appetizer! Made with Castelvetrano olives, lemon zest, rosemary, garlic, and Marcona almonds, they are perfect for your next gathering.
These warm olives are such an easy, delicious appetizer! Made with Castelvetrano olives, lemon zest, rosemary, garlic, and Marcona almonds, they are perfect for your next gathering. 
Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. -Marcel Proust
These Warm Olives with Lemon Zest, Rosemary, Garlic and Almonds are not only simple, they are also really delicious and quite unique.
Castelvetrano olives are marinated in olive oil, and warmed over the stove in a small heavy bottom pot or dutch oven, along with Marcona almonds. Infused with lemon zest, whole garlic cloves, fresh rosemary, and optional fennel seeds and cumin seeds, the olive and almonds take on the loveliest flavors.
Finish it off with aleppo chili flakes or chili threads – and viola, you’ll have a delicious appetizer in 10 minutes flat,  just in time for your holiday gathering.  It helps to have a cute little pot to serve this in, but a baking dish or ceramic dish will work great too.
ingredients in warm olives.

Ingredients in Warm Olive Appetizer

  • Olives: For the bright green olives, you see here, seek out Castelvetrano olives, big and buttery- these can be found at specialty food stores, or Cost Plus World Market. If you can’t find Castelvetrano olives, choose a variety of olives at your grocery store’s “olive bar”.
  • Almonds If possible, use Marcona almonds, which are Spanish almonds that have been blanched and roasted. They are available at stores like Whole foods, Trader Joes, Whole foods,  and sometimes even Costco. You can leave these out if there is a nut allergy.
  • Lemon zest
  • Fresh Rosemary (or sub fresh thyme sprigs or sage) 
  • Fresh Garlic cloves
  • Optional: Whole Fennel Seeds and Cumin seeds
  • Optional: Chili flakes, Aleppo chili or Chili threads

How to make Warm Olives

Step one: In a small heavy bottom pot, warm the olive oil.

Step two: Add a handful of whole garlic cloves. This will infuse the oil with delicious flavor.

Step three: When the garlic just begins to turn golden brown add fresh rosemary.

Step four: Add the whole seeds- cumin and fennel seeds.

Step five: Toast the seed for 1-2 minutes, stirring often, then add the almonds.

Step six: Add the lemon zest and Castlevetrano olives. Stir to coat well. Add more olive oil if you like. Keep warm until serving.

 Warm olives with rosemary, garlic, and almonds - a simple, delicious appetizer that is full of amazing flavor, that can be made very quickly and easily! #warmolives #olives #marcona #almonds #rosemaryolives
Step seven:  Finish with chili flakes,  Aleppo Chili or Chili Threads.

Chef’s Tip

The dried chili threads – can be found at most Asian markets. They are extremely thin threads of sun-dried red pepper that make an interesting garnish for just about anything. Traditionally used in the Korean condiment kimchi, they have a mild heat and full flavor that adds depth to soups, salads, hors d’oeuvres, eggs or anything that deserves a little extra color and spice. For even deeper flavor, lightly toast them in a dry skillet. Use them in place of chili flakes for added interest.

 Warm olives with rosemary, garlic, and almonds - a simple, delicious appetizer that is full of amazing flavor, that can be made very quickly and easily! #warmolives #olives #marcona #almonds #rosemaryolives

Serving suggestionS:

Serve this right in the pot on a trivet or transfer it to a rustic ceramic bowl. Serve with focaccia bread, bruschetta, or just on its own.
 Warm olives with rosemary, garlic, and almonds - a simple, delicious appetizer that is full of amazing flavor, that can be made very quickly and easily! #warmolives #olives #marcona #almonds #rosemaryolives
Enjoy the Warm Olives and tell us what you think in the comments below!
xoxo

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Warm olives with rosemary, garlic, and almonds - a simple, delicious appetizer that is full of amazing flavor, that can be made very quickly and easily! #warmolives #olives #marcona #almonds #rosemaryolives

Warm Olives with Rosemary, Garlic and Almonds

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Description

Warm olives with lemon zest, rosemary, garlic, and almonds – a simple, delicious appetizer that is full of amazing flavor, that can be made very quickly and easily!


Ingredients

Units


Instructions

  1. Warm oil over medium heat in a small heavy bottom pot or skillet.
  2. Add whole garlic cloves and turn heat to medium low, stirring occasionally until golden and fragrant.
  3. Add rosemary leaves and fennel seeds. Stir 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add cumin seeds, and cook another minute, stirring often.
  4. Add olives and almonds and sauté, stirring occasionally until both are warm, about 5-7 minutes. Add lemon zest. You can hold in a warm oven (150F) up to ½ hour, covered, until ready to serve.
  5. Garnish with lemon zest and chili threads.

Notes

Olives can be cooled, refrigerated, up to 4 days, and reheated.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ¼ cup
  • Calories: 130
  • Sugar: 0.6 g
  • Sodium: 165.7 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4.9 g
  • Fiber: 2.5 g
  • Protein: 2.9 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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Comments

  1. Couldn’t find Marcona almonds so simply took our normal variety and crisped them up in the olive oil like roasting them until golden and crunchy before adding the garlic and sort of confit-ing it slowly until soft and golden then the other ingredients. Added quite a bit of chilli flakes and a touch of Maldon salt at the end. What a quick and easy treat! And hugely appreciated.
    Many thanks, Sylvia!






  2. I make a version of this without the almonds. I am thinking Marcona almonds will be a great addition! Another quick and tasty appetizer is Peppadew peppers stuffed with soft goat cheese, topped with chopped pecans. I bake them in a small oval baking dish til the pecans are toasted, then drizzle with balsamic glaze. Sweet and a little spicy with the tart goat cheese is a nice bite!

  3. do you have a non-dairy substitute for 1/4 Cup of cheese wiz??? Its an old family recipe that I am trying to convert. It is melted with cream of mushroom soup no other liquids are added.
    Sincerely Kelly

  4. A friend & husband brought this warm olive bowl to our home for drinks. THE BEST recipe ever. You must make this. Your guests will love it. I’ve made this lots of times since. A hit every single time.






    1. I would serve the ramekin with a mini fork. The sell disposable ones that are silver at many grocery stores these days. They work great.

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