Few things can elevate your appetizer game like a bowl of briny, perfectly seasoned olives. While store-bought olives are convenient, crafting your own Artisanal Olives at home is a rewarding experience that allows you to tailor the flavors to your preference. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that takes you from ripe olives to delectable bites.
Servings: 32
Calories per Serving: 135 kcal
Fat: 14.6 g
Carbohydrates: 2.5 g
Protein: Less than 0.8 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 1185 mg
Total Time: 14 days and 1 hour (Prep Time: 1 hour)
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 pounds fresh ripe olives
- 10 cups water
- 4 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 1 cup olive oil
- 2 hot chili peppers
INSTRUCTIONS:
- The Fresh Olive Soak: Begin your olive journey by rinsing the fresh ripe olives under cold water. Then, place them in a bowl filled with cold water and allow them to soak overnight. This step helps to soften the olives and remove some of their natural bitterness.
- Drain and Prepare: After their overnight soak, drain the olives completely. They should now be ready to absorb the delightful flavors you’ll infuse them with.
- The Olive Slit: With a small knife, make a small slit in each olive. This little incision will allow the olives to better absorb the seasonings you’re about to introduce.
- Jar It Up: Next, it’s time to prepare your sterile pint jars. Fill them with the freshly slit olives, and get ready to layer on the flavor.
- Chili Pepper and Lemon Slices: Slice the hot chili peppers into rings, adding a fiery kick to your olives. Place one chili pepper ring and one lemon slice into each jar. This combination of heat and citrus will enhance the olives’ taste profile.
- Dissolve the Salt: In a separate bowl, dissolve the kosher salt into the water completely. This brine solution will season your olives to perfection.
- Submerge and Infuse: Pour the salted water over the olives in each jar, ensuring there’s about half an inch of space left from the top. The olives will gradually absorb the brine, infusing them with a delightful salty flavor.
- Seal with Olive Oil: Now, add a layer of olive oil into the jars, leaving about a quarter-inch of space from the top. The olive oil not only adds flavor but also helps preserve the olives.
- Seal Tightly: Seal each jar tightly with its lid. This ensures that the olives marinate in their flavorful bath.
- The Waiting Game: Patience is key when crafting artisanal olives. Refrigerate the jars and let them rest for two weeks. During this time, the olives will absorb the seasonings, resulting in a flavor-packed treat.
Enjoy Your Creation: After the two-week waiting period, your homemade Artisanal Olives will be ready to delight your taste buds. Serve them as a delightful appetizer, toss them into salads, or pair them with your favorite cheeses and charcuterie.
Share the Culinary Joy: Your handcrafted olives are not only a treat for your palate but also a thoughtful and unique gift for friends and family who appreciate the finer things in life. Share the culinary joy and elevate their snacking experience.
Experiment and Customize: Don’t hesitate to experiment with different spices, herbs, or citrus fruits to customize your artisanal olives. Create variations that cater to your personal taste or explore exciting new flavor combinations.
Savor the Flavor: Every bite of your homemade Artisanal Olives tells a story of time and care invested in creating a truly unique culinary experience. Savor the flavors, and revel in the satisfaction of creating a delicious and artisanal appetizer from scratch.
