Easy Roasted Olives ~ this simple and elegant Mediterranean inspired appetizer is my go to for parties of all kinds. Healthy olives fit into most everyone’s diet, so it’s always a hit.
I’m popping in today with what might be the most stupidly easy effortlessly elegant appetizer on my blog. I serve these roasted olives when I want to create an especially relaxed, informal atmosphere with friends, and it occurred to me that it would be a good one to share with you now, while we’re all crazed with too many things to do and too little time to do them in. Don’t let its simplicity fool you, this is a distinctive dish.
When you roast olives they get softer and milder
They take on a melting texture that is a little unexpected, and so when a newbie pops a warm one in his or her mouth there’s always a ‘wow’ moment. You can serve them with a spoon so guests can have their own little plates, but frankly we all just pick at the pan and enjoy ourselves. Use toothpicks if you’re fussy.
How to make roasted olives
We had this once or twice at good restaurants before I finally got hip to the idea that I could do it at home. You can make it your own by adjusting the ingredients.
- I gather the biggest variety of olives I can find, all from the olive bar at my supermarket. I’ll use pitted and un-pitted, and I take a few of each kind for a really good mix. I also like to use the stuffed kind, that just adds more color and texture. Olives from an olive bar taste so much fresher and better than bottled, and more and more stores now offer them.
- I add cubes of good feta cheese, which also mellows and softens with baking, and a couple of sliced jalapenos for excitement.
- Fresh herbs are key, and I sometimes use whole spices like fennel and cumin for a punch of flavor, it just depends on my mood. You can use plain or infused olive oils and vinegars for creative results. The key is in the roasting, and even plain olives taste heavenly when they come out of the oven.
There are so many reasons to recommend this appetizer It can be thrown together ahead of time and baked whenever, it’s visually beautiful, it’s something your guests may not have had before, and it’s actually healthy, none of which you can say about cheese and crackers.
Serve some good fresh crusty bread along with the olives to mop up that great sauce! OK, now you’ve got your appetizer covered, take a deep breath and get back out there and shop!
Other recipes that feature olives ~
- Olive Wreath Appetizer
- Roasted Halibut with Tomatoes, Peppers, and Olives
- Fried Olives
- Baked Feta Cheese with Olives and Lemon
- Spaghetti Peperonata with Tuna and Olives
Effortless Entertaining: Roasted Olives
Ingredients
- 3 cups or so assorted olives, pitted or unpitted (or allow about 1/2 cup per person). Seek out a good, colorful assortment.
- 1 cup or so of good quality feta cheese, cut in small bite sized cubes.
- 1 or 2 red or green jalapenos, thinly sliced, seeds and all (optional)
- juice of 1 lemon
- handful of fresh thyme
- salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
- 3 Tbsp good quality olive oil
- 2 Tbsp good quality red wine or sherry vinegar
Instructions
- Set oven to 400F
- Spread the olives out in a casserole dish or gratin dish. Toss with all the rest of the ingredients and taste the dressing to adjust any of the elements.
- Bake for about 20 minutes until bubbling.
- Replace the roasted thyme with fresh sprigs, and serve hot with crusty bread.
16 Comments
Gina
November 25, 2019 at 2:11 pmCan this be made a few days ahead?
Sue
November 25, 2019 at 2:18 pmYes, but best to assemble and then bake right when you need it.
[email protected]+The+Café+Sucré+Farine
December 21, 2014 at 10:09 amI made these for an appetizer for our Christmas dinner (which is tonight) – so stinkin’ good!!! 🙂 I’m adding a few strips of really good salami and some roasted garlic. Yummers! Thanks Sue.
Sue
December 21, 2014 at 11:12 amSalami! Now that would make it dinner for us!
Allie | Baking a Moment
December 19, 2014 at 7:27 pmThese sound incredible, and your photos are stunning! A melting warm olive definitely has me intrigued, and especially with the feta and all those other fabulous flavors. Brilliant!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
December 19, 2014 at 10:28 amoh my goodness!! I love olives so much and I have never roasted them. . at most I have sauteed them. . love love love this and can’t wait to try it!!! perfection with the feta cheese!
Amanda
December 18, 2014 at 8:45 pmThis is such a creative recipe, I am so excited to try it!!!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
December 18, 2014 at 4:57 pmOh my, Sue, I think I can smell them now! And I have just the bread to go with them, coming out of the oven any minute now. (I’m on a sourdough kick again!)
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
December 18, 2014 at 2:59 pmI can just taste these – love it! And your photos are beautiful!
Sue
December 18, 2014 at 3:04 pmThanks Patricia, I have to give credit to the beautiful olives!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
December 18, 2014 at 9:52 amSo pretty, I love the fresh herbs and feta. A perfect holiday appetizer!
Susan
December 18, 2014 at 6:45 amI can almost smell them through my monitor. We love olives here and have a favorite restaurant that serves little martini glasses filled with olives when you sit down at the table. I’ve never roasted olives before but can’t wait to try!
Sue
December 18, 2014 at 7:04 amthere’s nothing more fun for me than going to a restaurant and having a drink and an great appetizer, I love the idea of those martini glasses 🙂
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
December 18, 2014 at 6:03 amHow did you know???? I need more easy peasy in my life … and olives – well I just adore them! Thanks Sue – you are so sweet!
cheri
December 18, 2014 at 5:42 amHi Sue, we all need more recipes like this, especially now! Love everything about this!
[email protected]
December 18, 2014 at 5:34 amWow, these will be on our Christmas Eve dinner table. Thanks.