Orange and Fennel Marinated Olives Recipe
Photo: John Kernick
As much as I love to eat crunchy snacks, I also really enjoy the juicy savory bite of olives. But I temper their saltiness with the anise aroma of fennel, the sweetness of orange, and a little heat. Over the years, we've been able to get an increasing variety of olives—even in our local markets. I like combining different Mediterranean varieties and always buy them unpitted.
Makes 1 1/2 cups
Ingredients
- 1 cup large green brine-cured olives, preferably Sevillano and Castelvetrano
- ½ cup kalamata olives
- ½ tsp. fennel seeds
- 1/8 tsp. crushed red chile flakes
- 2 (4-inch) strips fresh orange zest (removed with a vegetable peeler)
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
If you're able to find Sevillano olives, rinse them under cold water for 5 minutes, then soak them in cold water for 2 hours. Drain well.
Combine the olives in a medium bowl.
Toast the fennel seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chile flakes and toast until just fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and add the orange zest and oil. Steep until cool.
Pour the oil mixture over the olives. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 6 hours or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Excerpted from Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes (Clarkson Potter) by Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
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