Simply rinsing olives and warming them a little refreshes their flavor; adding some herbs and garlic and a little zest makes them even more delightful.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 1 cup
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Rinse in a strainer under running water: 1 cup olives with pits (use an assortment of flavors and colors).
Step 2
Set aside to drain.
Step 3
Heat, in a small heavy pan: 2 teaspoons olive oil.
Step 4
Add the drained olives with: 1 garlic clove, peeled and quartered, 1 chile, fresh or dried, 3 thyme or savory sprigs, 2 strips of orange or lemon zest.
Step 5
Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the olives are warm all the way through. Turn off the heat and leave them in the warm pan for a few minutes before serving. Serve warm, if possible. They can easily be reheated.
Variations
Step 6
Substitute other herbs for the thyme or savory.
Step 7
Add whole seeds such as fennel, cumin, caraway, or black mustard seed.
Step 8
Add a few pinches of cayenne or paprika.
