Citrus Marinated Castelvetrano Olives Recipe

Rinse and prep olives

Place the Castelvetrano olives in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water for 30–60 seconds to remove any brine surface salt. Drain well and transfer to a medium mixing bowl.

Prepare citrus

Zest one lemon and one orange until you have the measured zests (about 1 tablespoon each). Then juice the lemon and orange until you have 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1 tablespoon orange juice. Remove any seeds.

Combine marinade

In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon orange juice, 1 teaspoon honey (if using), 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes until well combined.

Assemble marinade with aromatics

Add the lemon and orange zest, thinly sliced garlic, bruised rosemary sprigs, thyme (if using), and whole black peppercorns to the bowl with the drained olives. Pour the oil–citrus mixture over the olives and toss with a spoon or by gently shaking the bowl to coat all olives evenly.

Marinate

Transfer the olives and marinade into a clean jar or airtight container. Press the herbs and garlic down so they are immersed in the liquid. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, preferably overnight (8–24 hours) to allow citrus and aromatics to penetrate the olives. If you prefer room-temperature service, bring the marinated olives out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving.

Taste and adjust: After marinating, taste one olive. If it needs more brightness, add an additional teaspoon of lemon juice; for more saltiness, add up to 1/4 teaspoon more kosher salt and stir to dissolve.

Plate and finish: Transfer the olives to a serving bowl or leave them in the jar. Stir in 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley and sprinkle 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest over the top. Drizzle an additional teaspoon of olive oil if desired.

Storage: Keep leftovers refrigerated in their marinade for up to 2 weeks. Bring to room temperature before serving for best flavor. Use a clean spoon each time to avoid contamination.